South Lanarkshire School Holidays 2024/2025: Complete Guide

Families across South Lanarkshire can now access the full school holiday calendar for the 2024/25 academic year, along with approved dates extending into 2025/26 and beyond. The Education Resources Committee confirmed the official schedule on 29 October 2024, providing parents and carers with the certainty needed for advance planning.

South Lanarkshire Council operates schools across a diverse region covering towns including Hamilton, East Kilbride, Rutherglen, Cambuslang, and Lanark. Each academic year brings a structured pattern of term dates, holidays, and in-service closure days that shape family routines throughout the year.

This guide presents the confirmed dates for 2024/25 alongside the newly approved 2025/26 calendar, along with available information for 2026 and beyond. All dates come directly from official council publications and approved committee decisions.

What are the South Lanarkshire school holidays for 2024/25?

The 2024/25 academic year follows a familiar pattern established by South Lanarkshire Council, with key breaks positioned to give families regular respite throughout the year. The following overview captures the essential dates for planning purposes.

• The 2024/25 calendar was finalised by the Education Resources Committee on 29 October 2024, replacing earlier provisional schedules.
• October half-term runs from Monday 14 to Friday 18 October 2024, providing a mid-term rest before the darker winter months arrive.
• The February break spans three days, with Wednesday 19 February designated as an in-service day when schools remain closed to pupils.
• Easter holidays in 2025 extend for two weeks, running from Friday 7 April through to Monday 21 April.
• May bank holidays fall on Monday 5 May and Friday 23 May, with the latter linked to the Whit week break through to Monday 26 May.
• Schools close for the summer on Monday 30 June 2025, with pupils returning on Tuesday 12 August for the new academic year.
• In-service closure days are spread throughout the year, with 11 November 2024 and 1 May 2025 confirmed as pupil-free dates.

When are Easter holidays in South Lanarkshire schools 2024/25?

Easter represents one of the longest breaks in the South Lanarkshire calendar, second only to the summer holiday period. For 2025, the Easter break runs from Friday 7 April through to and including Monday 21 April, with pupils returning to classrooms on Tuesday 22 April.

Timing and school closure details

Schools across South Lanarkshire close at their normal time on Thursday 3 April 2025, with the Easter break officially commencing on Friday 7 April. This arrangement accommodates Good Friday on 3 April and the subsequent Easter Monday on 6 April as part of the extended holiday period.

The two-week duration provides families with a substantial break that often coincides with the improvement in weather that typically arrives in mid-April. Many households use this period for short trips, family visits, or holiday childcare arrangements.

Comparing Easter 2024/25 to previous years

The Easter break in 2024/25 mirrors the structure used in previous academic years, maintaining consistency for families who have children at different schools within South Lanarkshire. The two-week pattern has remained largely stable since the post-pandemic return to standard scheduling.

What are the South Lanarkshire school holidays for 2025/26?

The 2025/26 academic year brings several notable features that families should note. The South Lanarkshire Council approved these dates on 29 October 2024, providing considerable advance notice compared to provisional schedules published earlier in the year.

Key dates for August 2025 through December 2025

The new academic year begins with teachers returning on Tuesday 12 August 2025, followed by in-service days on 12 and 13 August. Pupils return to school on Thursday 14 August, later than in some previous years when the return date fell earlier in the month.

The September weekend holiday falls on Friday 26 September and Monday 29 September, while October brings a full week break from Monday 13 to Friday 17 October. December arrangements mirror recent years, with schools closing at 2:30pm on Friday 19 December before the Christmas/New Year break from Monday 22 December through to Friday 2 January 2026.

February and spring dates in 2026

February 2026 brings a break from Monday 16 to Tuesday 17 February, with Wednesday 18 February designated as an in-service day across all South Lanarkshire schools. The Easter period in 2026 follows a similar two-week pattern, with schools closing at 2:30pm on Thursday 2 April.

Good Friday falls on 3 April 2026, placing the start of the Easter break on the preceding day. The Easter/Spring break extends from Friday 3 April through to Friday 17 April, with pupils returning on Monday 20 April.

May and June 2026

May bank holidays land on Monday 4 May and Friday 22 May, with the latter linked to a local holiday on Monday 25 May. The in-service day on Thursday 7 May was initially proposed to coincide with the Scottish Parliamentary Election, though this arrangement remained subject to confirmation at the time of publication.

The academic year concludes on Thursday 25 June 2026, when schools close at 1pm for the summer break. Pupils will not return until August 2026 for the 2026/27 academic year.

South Lanarkshire school holidays in 2026 and beyond

While the 2025/26 academic year has been formally approved, information about subsequent years remains limited. The council typically publishes holiday schedules approximately 12 months before the relevant academic year begins, meaning confirmed dates for 2026/27 and beyond have not yet been released.

What families can reasonably expect

Based on established patterns, the summer break in 2026 will likely begin in late June or early July, following the conclusion of the 2025/26 academic year. Easter 2027 would fall in late March or early April, though the exact positioning depends on the ecclesiastical calendar.

Regional considerations

South Lanarkshire schools generally follow a calendar aligned with neighbouring authorities, though minor variations can occur. North Lanarkshire, which covers areas including Motherwell, Airdrie, and Cumbernauld, typically publishes similar dates but may differ on specific in-service days or local holidays.

Academic year timeline: 2024/25 at a glance

The following chronological sequence captures the full 2024/25 academic year, providing a single reference point for all term dates, holidays, and in-service closure days.

1. August 2024 – Term begins for pupils (dates vary by school; pupils return by Tuesday 13 or Wednesday 14 August)
2. October 2024 – October break from 14 to 18 October; in-service on 11 November
3. December 2024 – Schools close on 20 December; Christmas holidays from 23 December to 3 January 2025
4. February 2025 – February break from 17 to 19 February (with 19 February as in-service day)
5. April 2025 – Easter holidays from 7 April to 21 April; pupils return 22 April
6. May 2025 – May Day on 5 May; in-service on 1 May; May holidays from 23 to 26 May
7. June/July 2025 – Schools close for summer; new academic year begins August 2025

Confirmed information and areas of uncertainty

Understanding what is confirmed versus what remains subject to change helps families prioritise their planning efforts and manage expectations appropriately.

Background and context for South Lanarkshire families

South Lanarkshire operates more than 130 primary schools and over 20 secondary schools across its jurisdiction. The council’s education department coordinates holiday scheduling to balance educational outcomes with the operational needs of a large and diverse estate.

The region encompasses a mix of urban and rural communities, from the post-war housing schemes of East Kilbride to the historic market town of Lanark. Holiday planning takes account of these varied demographics, with the calendar designed to serve the needs of working families across all areas.

Parents and carers are encouraged to verify specific arrangements directly with individual schools, as some institutions may have minor variations to the core calendar for operational reasons. The South Lanarkshire Council website maintains the authoritative calendar and publishes updates as they become available.