There are five main holiday breaks throughout the academic year, helping families plan around the official East Lothian school holidays and term dates. Published by East Lothian Council, the yearly school calendar includes Term 1, Term 2, and Term 3, covering the autumn term, spring term, and summer term.
This page provides complete details on school session dates, including when each term starts and term ends, as well as important public holidays such as Good Friday, Easter Monday, and May Day. It follows official local authority school dates Scotland guidance and reflects common Scottish school holiday patterns throughout the year.
East Lothian School Holidays 2025/2026
Here are the East Lothian school holidays and term dates for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Term 1
- Staff In-service Day 1 – Monday 11 August 2025 (school closed)
- Staff In-service Day 2 – Tuesday 12 August 2025 (school closed)
- Pupils resume – Wednesday 13 August 2025
- Autumn holiday (school closed) – Friday 12 September 2025
- Autumn holiday (school closed) – Monday 15 September 2025
- All return date – Tuesday 16 September 2025
- All break date (October) – end of Friday 10 October 2025
- Staff In-service Day 3 – Monday 20 October 2025 (pupil holiday)
- Pupils resume – Tuesday 21 October 2025
- Term ends – Friday 19 December 2025 (start of Christmas break)
Term 2
- All resume – Monday 5 January 2026
- February break – Friday 13 February 2026
- Staff In-service Day 4 – Monday 23 February 2026
- Pupils resume – Tuesday 24 February 2026
- Term ends – Thursday 2 April 2026
- Good Friday – 3 April 2026 (school closed)
- Easter Monday – 6 April 2026 (school closed)
Term 3
- All resume (staff and pupils) – Tuesday 21 April 2026
- May Day – Monday 4 May 2026 (school closed)
- All resume – Tuesday 5 May 2026
- Staff In-service Day 5 – Monday 18 May 2026 (non-pupil day)
- Pupils resume – Tuesday 19 May 2026
- Term ends (summer holidays) – Friday 26 June 2026
East Lothian School Holidays 2026/2027
Here are the East Lothian school holidays and term dates for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Term 1
- Staff In-service Day 1 – Monday 10 August 2026
- Staff In-service Day 2 – Tuesday 11 August 2026
- Pupils resume date – Wednesday 12 August 2026
- Autumn break – Friday 11 September 2026
- Autumn break – Monday 14 September 2026
- All return date – Tuesday 15 September 2026
- All break – Friday 9 October 2026
- Staff In-service Day 3 – Monday 19 October 2026
- Pupils resume – Tuesday 20 October 2026
- Term ends – Friday 18 December 2026
Term 2
- All resume – Tuesday 5 January 2027
- February break – Friday 12 February 2027
- Staff In-service Day 4 – Monday 22 February 2027
- Pupils resume – Tuesday 23 February 2027
- Good Friday – 26 March 2027 (school closed)
- Easter Monday – 29 March 2027 (school closed)
- All return – 30 March 2027
- Term ends – Friday 2 April 2027
Term 3
- All resume (staff and pupils) – Tuesday 20 April 2027
- May Day – Monday 3 May 2027 (school closed)
- All resume – Tuesday 4 May 2027
- Staff In-service Day 5 – Monday 24 May 2027 (pupil holiday)
- Pupils resume – Tuesday 25 May 2027
- Term ends (summer holidays) – Tuesday 29 June 2027
Find UK School Holidays by Council
Looking for official school holiday dates across the UK? Browse our complete guide to UK school holidays organised by council so you can quickly find accurate term dates and plan family activities with confidence.
Check More: PKC School Holidays
East Lothian School Holidays 2027/2028
Please note: East Lothian Council typically releases 2027/2028 dates 12–18 months in advance. Below are projected East Lothian school holidays and term dates based on historical Scottish school holiday patterns.
Term 1
- Staff In-service Day 1 & 2 – around 9–10 August 2027
- Pupils resume – 11 August 2027
- Autumn holiday – mid-September 2027 (1–2 days)
- October break – mid-October 2027 (1 week)
- Term ends – late December 2027
Term 2
- All resume – early January 2028
- February break – mid-February 2028
- Staff in-service day – late February 2028
- Term ends – late March/early April 2028 (including Easter holidays)
Term 3
- All resume – mid-to-late April 2028
- May Day – first Monday in May 2028
- Staff in-service day – late May 2028
- Term ends (summer holidays) – late June 2028
School Opening & Closing Times
Opening and closing times schools use in East Lothian differ between primaries and secondaries. Most primaries run 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, while secondaries often start earlier (8:40 AM – 3:30 PM).
Daily opening times and after-school schedules are set by each headteacher. For exact times, contact your school directly or check their school calendar on the East Lothian Council website.
Have a Question About School Holiday Dates?
If you’ve spotted an issue, need clarification, or have a question about UK school holidays or term dates, feel free to get in touch with us.
Also Check: Scotland School Holidays
Useful Resources
- East Lothian Council – Official term date changes and closures
FAQs
Is Good Friday a school holiday in East Lothian?
Yes. Good Friday (3 April 2026 and 26 March 2027) is a council-wide school closure.
Does East Lothian have a February break?
Yes. The February break falls on Friday 13 February 2026 and Friday 12 February 2027.
Do all East Lothian schools have the same term dates?
Mostly yes. Primary and secondary schools follow the same school session dates, but opening/closing times differ.
Where can I find East Lothian school holiday changes?
Check the official East Lothian Council website or your child’s school handbook for updates.