Glasgow School Holidays 2024 – Official Term Dates Guide

Glasgow families planning ahead for the 2024/25 academic year can find official term dates and holiday schedules through Glasgow City Council and regional education directories. Understanding these dates helps parents coordinate childcare, travel, and activities around the school calendar.

The council sets term dates for its maintained schools, though individual institutions may have slight variations. Key holiday periods include October mid-term, Christmas, February mid-term, Easter, and summer break. In-service days for staff training also affect the school calendar, with pupils typically having additional days off during these periods.

This guide consolidates available information from official sources, including council documents, school-specific PDFs, and regional directories covering the 2023/24, 2024/25, and 2025/26 academic years.

What are the Glasgow school holidays for 2024/25?

The 2024/25 academic year follows Glasgow City Council’s standard term structure, with in-service days and holiday breaks distributed across six terms.

Overview of 2024/25 term dates

Key insights for 2024/25

• The academic year typically begins on the second Tuesday of August, with teachers returning two days before pupils.
• October mid-term usually spans one week, with an in-service day on the preceding Friday.
• Christmas break runs for approximately two weeks, aligned with public holidays in late December.
• Mid-term in February typically covers two days, falling around the third week of the month.
• Spring/Easter break usually spans two weeks, with dates varying slightly year to year.
• May Day holiday on the first Monday of May affects the term schedule.
• Individual schools may adjust dates slightly, particularly independent institutions.

2024/25 holiday snapshot

Glasgow school holidays 2023/24 dates

The 2023/24 academic year followed a similar structure to subsequent years, with specific in-service days and holiday periods confirmed through school documentation.

In-service days for 2023/24

Jordanhill School, a Glasgow independent institution, published detailed term dates for 2023/24 that provide insight into the broader pattern. According to their documented schedule, in-service days fell on the following dates:

• Monday 14 August 2023
• Tuesday 15 August 2023
• Friday 13 October 2023
• Wednesday 14 February 2024
• Tuesday 7 May 2024

Key holiday periods 2023/24

Pupil return dates 2023/24

Upcoming Glasgow school holidays 2025/26 and beyond

Forward planning for the 2025/26 academic year is possible through regional education directories, though parents should note that dates may be subject to confirmation closer to the academic year.

2025/26 term structure

The Primary Times provides the most comprehensive Glasgow-specific schedule for 2025/26, distinguishing council-standard dates from variations in surrounding areas. According to this source:

• Term 1: Tuesday 12 August 2025 – Friday 10 October 2025
• Term 2: Monday 20 October 2025 – Friday 19 December 2025
• Term 3: Monday 5 January 2026 – Friday 13 February 2026
• Term 4: Monday 23 February 2026 – Thursday 2 April 2026
• Term 5: Monday 20 April 2026 – Friday 22 May 2026
• Term 6: Monday 1 June 2026 – Thursday 25 June 2026

2025/26 holiday dates

Glasgow school holidays in January 2024

January typically marks the start of the spring term following the Christmas break. In the 2023/24 academic year, pupils returned on Monday 8 January 2024 after the holiday period.

January 2024 pattern

The Christmas break for the 2023/24 academic year ran from 25 December 2023 through 5 January 2024, with pupils returning to school on 8 January 2024. This two-week closure aligns with standard council practice and Scottish public holidays.

For the 2024/25 academic year, the Christmas holiday period begins on 23 December 2024, with pupils returning on 6 January 2025. This represents a slightly longer break due to the calendar configuration, with the New Year bank holiday falling on 1 January 2025.

Checking January dates for your school

Individual Glasgow schools may have slight variations to the standard council calendar. Parents should consult their specific school’s website or contact the school office directly for the most accurate January term dates. Independent schools particularly may follow slightly different schedules to council-maintained institutions.

The GOV.UK school term dates page directs users to Glasgow City Council for authoritative information, serving as a useful starting point for verification.

Timeline: Glasgow school holidays across academic years

The following chronological overview presents confirmed holiday periods across multiple academic years, sourced from official documentation.

1. 2023/24: Mid-term 16–20 October 2023; Christmas 25 December 2023 – 5 January 2024; Easter from March/April 2024; Summer from 25 June 2024
2. 2024/25: October mid-term 14–18 October 2024; Christmas 23 December 2024 – 3 January 2025; Mid-term 17–18 February 2025; Easter 7–21 April 2025; Summer from 25 June 2025
3. 2025/26: October mid-term 14–18 October 2025; Christmas 22 December 2025 – 2 January 2026; February mid-term 16–20 February 2026; Easter 3–19 April 2026; Summer from June 2026

Each academic year follows a six-term structure, with in-service days distributed throughout. The pattern remains broadly consistent year to year, though specific dates shift based on calendar configuration.

Confirmed information and areas of uncertainty

When planning ahead, it helps to distinguish between confirmed dates and those still subject to change.

Established information

Information requiring verification

Understanding Glasgow’s school calendar context

Glasgow City Council sets term dates for its maintained schools within a national framework that aligns with Scottish education policy. The academic year typically runs from early August through late June, divided into six terms with holiday breaks at regular intervals. For more details on the actors involved, you can explore the Guardians of the Galaxy cast. Guardians of the Galaxy cast

This structure follows the broader Scottish pattern, where schools generally observe similar holiday periods regardless of local authority. Christmas, Easter, and summer breaks align closely with those in other parts of Scotland, though specific dates vary slightly based on council decisions and calendar configuration.

In-service days, during which pupils do not attend school while staff participate in training, are distributed throughout the year. These days typically fall on Fridays or Mondays adjacent to holiday periods, creating extended breaks for families. The number and placement of in-service days can vary between academic years.

Official sources and documentation

Several sources provide authoritative information on Glasgow school term dates, each with distinct coverage periods and perspectives.

GOV.UK directs users to Glasgow City Council for official term date information, serving as a gateway to council resources for school holiday dates.

GOV.UK

The Primary Times provides comprehensive term-by-term listings for Glasgow, covering the 2025/26 academic year with distinction between council-standard and area-specific variations.

Primary Times

Jordanhill School’s published term date PDFs offer detailed in-service day information for the 2023/24 academic year, with specific dates for staff training and pupil holidays.

Jordanhill School

Summary and next steps for families

Glasgow school holidays follow a consistent annual pattern, with term dates set by Glasgow City Council for maintained schools. The 2024/25 academic year includes October mid-term, Christmas, February mid-term, Easter, and summer breaks, with in-service days creating additional pupil-free days throughout the year.

For parents seeking to understand UK-wide educational structures, it is worth noting that Scotland operates its own education system with distinct term date patterns compared to England. Families planning travel during school holidays should confirm exact dates with their specific school, as independent institutions may vary from council-maintained schools.

Those interested in autumn travel might find information on warm destinations in October useful for planning trips during the mid-term break.

Frequently asked questions