Wednesday June 24th 2026
Photo by Note Thanun
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
West Lothian pupils will have a seven week summer holiday next year, councillors have agreed
The extra week before the start of the 2027/28 school year corrects a creep backwards towards the start of August under along running holiday calendar.
The new calendar also means that Easter holidays will come in the two weeks before Good Friday.
In a report to the Education Executive Hannah Haywood, a customer services manager, told councillors that it was not possible to align holidays with neighbouring authorities despite many requests from parents.
The report said: “In October 2024 a survey was issued to pupils, teaching and non-teaching school staff, parents, and carers. The survey was about the options for breaks at Summer, October, and February.
“The most popular option from the survey was for 6 weeks in summer, one week in October and one week in February. This pattern of holidays has been used since, but with a six-week summer break each year the start of the session was gradually getting earlier, so the proposal for the 2027/28 session includes a 7-week summer break beforehand. This does not impact on the number of teaching days in the session.”
Among the schools which responded to a new consultation pupils at Harrysmuir Primary were in favour of the longer summer break to allow more time to enjoy the summer weather, and the later start date in August which would allow them to go to the Edinburgh Festival and Book Festival.
The report highlighted that some members of the Linlithgow Academy Parent Council expressed a concern that the longer summer break is not helpful for parents who need childcare, or for children with additional support needs as it is difficult to get back into the routine after a long break.
The February week-long holiday has also been contentious sine it was first introduced. Many parents find it difficult to take time off and few families can afford holiday a month after the expenses of the Christmas season.
The report added: “Those in favour felt that it was a tiring term for pupils and the week long holiday was needed, but those against cited the poor weather, impact on pupils undertaking exams, disruption to the routine for pupils with ASN.”
For some senior students too the week break come ahead of a crucial exam timetable.
The new term dates for2027/2 will be:
Resume: Wednesday 18 August.
September weekend: Friday 17 – Monday 20 September.
October week: Monday 18 October – Tuesday 26 October.
Christmas Holidays: Wednesday 22 December – Wednesday 5 January 2028.
February half term: Monday 14 February – Tuesday 22 February.
Easter:- Monday 3 April – Tuesday 18 April
May Day:- Monday 1 May- Wednesday 3 May.
Local holidays: Bathgate Academy and feeder primary schools plus St Mary’s, Bathgate & St Columba’s PS Bathgate Procession Monday, 5 June 202.
Linlithgow Academy and feeder primary schools plus St Joseph’s Primary School, Linlithgow: Linlithgow Marches Tuesday, 13 June 2028.
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