Orkney Islands school term dates 2026/27
Next term date
Schools break up in 34 days — Fri 9 Oct 2026
Next holiday: October holidays, Mon 12 Oct 2026 – Tue 27 Oct 2026
Verified from www.orkney.gov.uk on Sat 5 Sep 2026. Cross-checked against an independent dataset Where these dates come from
Check your school's calendar.
2026/27
Terms 2026/27
| Term | Starts | Ends | School days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Tue 18 Aug 2026 | Fri 9 Oct 2026 | 39 |
| Term 2 | Wed 28 Oct 2026 | Fri 18 Dec 2026 | 37 |
| Spring term | Tue 5 Jan 2027 | Fri 26 Mar 2027 | 54 |
| Summer term | Mon 12 Apr 2027 | Fri 2 Jul 2027 | 58 |
Holidays 2026/27
| Holiday | First day off | Last day off |
|---|---|---|
| October holidays | Mon 12 Oct 2026 | Tue 27 Oct 2026 |
| Christmas holiday | Mon 21 Dec 2026 | Mon 4 Jan 2027 |
| February school closure | Thu 11 Feb 2027 | Tue 16 Feb 2027 |
| Easter holiday | Mon 29 Mar 2027 | Fri 9 Apr 2027 |
| May Day holiday | Mon 3 May 2027 | Mon 3 May 2027 |
| May holiday | Mon 31 May 2027 | Mon 31 May 2027 |
| Summer holiday computed tbc return date not yet published (usually published in September) |
Mon 5 Jul 2027 | — |
INSET and closure days 2026/27
| Day | Date | Until |
|---|---|---|
| INSET day per school | Mon 17 Aug 2026 | Mon 17 Aug 2026 |
| INSET day per school | Mon 26 Oct 2026 | Mon 26 Oct 2026 |
| INSET day per school | Tue 27 Oct 2026 | Tue 27 Oct 2026 |
| INSET day per school | Tue 16 Feb 2027 | Tue 16 Feb 2027 |
| INSET day per school | Mon 31 May 2027 | Mon 31 May 2027 |
What's different about Orkney Islands
- The term 1 in Orkney Islands is 39 school days (Tue 18 Aug 2026 – Fri 9 Oct 2026), 34 days shorter than the median across the 52 United Kingdom jurisdictions we cover.
- Orkney Islands schools break up for summer on Fri 2 Jul 2027, 26 days before the latest (Surrey, Wed 28 Jul 2027).
- The source lists 5 pupil-free days (INSET day): Mon 17 Aug 2026, Mon 26 Oct 2026, Tue 27 Oct 2026, Tue 16 Feb 2027, Mon 31 May 2027.
- The 2026/27 dates were first published in September 2026.
Who these dates apply to
The council sets local term dates, but individual schools choose in-service days and may make small changes.
Where these dates come from
Source: Orkney Islands, official school term dates. www.orkney.gov.uk
Verified from www.orkney.gov.uk on Sat 5 Sep 2026. Cross-checked against an independent dataset
Source text
School term dates - 2026 / 2027 (all dates are inclusive) Term 1 Tuesday 18 August – Friday 9 October. (39 days) October holidays Monday 12 October – Tuesday 27 October. Term 2 Wednesday 28 October – Friday 18 December. (38 days) Christmas holidays Monday 21 December – Monday 4 January. Term 3 Tuesday 5 January – Friday 26 March. (55 days) Schools closed Thursday 11 February – Tuesday 16 February. Spring holidays Monday 29 March – Friday 9 April. (Easter Monday 29 March). Term 4 Monday 12 April – Friday 2 July. (58 days) Schools closed Monday 3 May (May Day holiday). Schools closed Monday 31 May. Staff Only, In-service days are: • Monday 17 August. • Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 October. • Tuesday 16 February. • Monday 31 May.
Keep these dates
Get reminders
Email and web-push reminders before every break-up and return day are coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
- When does the term 1 end in Orkney Islands in 2026?
- Pupils break up on Friday 9 October 2026.
- When is the October holidays 2026 in Orkney Islands?
- The October holidays in Orkney Islands runs from Monday 12 October 2026 to Tuesday 27 October 2026 inclusive.
- When do Orkney Islands schools go back for the term 2 in October 2026?
- The term 2 in Orkney Islands starts on Wednesday 28 October 2026.
- When does the term 2 end in Orkney Islands in 2026?
- Pupils break up on Friday 18 December 2026.
- When is the Christmas holiday 2026 in Orkney Islands?
- The Christmas holiday in Orkney Islands runs from Monday 21 December 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027 inclusive.