Leave HackerGuidesPlan my yearWest Dunbartonshire school holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28
West Dunbartonshire's school holidays and term dates for 2026/27 and 2027/28, from West Dunbartonshire Council. West Dunbartonshire schools break up for Christmas on Friday 18 December 2026 and go back on Tuesday 5 January. For a parent, the best value is Christmas 2026: book 3 days, get 11 off (Fri 25 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027). Easter holidays 2027 are Sat 3 Apr to Sun 18 Apr 2027 (two weeks), a week later than the most common Scottish dates: Fri 26 Mar to Sun 11 Apr 2027 (two weeks and 1 day, 13 of 32 councils).
West Dunbartonshire school holidays 2026/27
| Holiday | Off, weekends included | Leave to cover it |
|---|---|---|
| September weekend2 days, past | 25 to 28 Sepback Tue 29 Sep | 2 days → 4 off |
| October holidaysone week, past | 10 to 18 Octback Mon 19 Oct | 5 days → 9 off |
| Christmas holidaystwo weeks and 1 day | 19 Dec to 4 Janback Tue 5 Jan | 7 days → 17 off |
| February mid-term2 days | 13 to 16 Febback Wed 17 Feb INSET day | 2 days → 4 off |
| Good Friday and Easter Monday2 days | 26 to 29 Marback Tue 30 Mar | 1 day → 4 off |
| Easter holidaystwo weeks | 3 to 18 Aprback Mon 19 Apr | 10 days → 16 off |
| May Day1 day | 1 to 3 Mayback Tue 4 May INSET day | No leave |
| May weekend2 days | 28 to 31 Mayback Tue 1 Jun | 1 day → 4 off |
| Summer holidayssix weeks and 3 days | 1 Jul to 16 Augback Tue 17 Aug | 32 days → 47 off |
Training (INSET) days set by the council: Thu 13 Aug 2026, Fri 14 Aug 2026, Mon 9 Nov 2026, Wed 17 Feb 2027 and Tue 4 May 2027. Pupils are off. Check with your school: schools set their other training days themselves.
Each row is a month, from the 1st on the left. The yellow stickers are the school holidays.
Term dates 2026/27
| Term | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | Mon 17 Aug 2026 | Fri 18 Dec 2026 |
| Spring term | Tue 5 Jan 2027 | Fri 2 Apr 2027 |
| Summer term | Mon 19 Apr 2027 | Wed 30 Jun 2027 |
The terms between Christmas, Easter and the summer; Scottish councils often number them 1 to 4. Half terms and the other holidays above fall inside them.
How West Dunbartonshire compares
- Easter holidays 2027 are Sat 3 Apr to Sun 18 Apr 2027 (two weeks), a week later than the most common Scottish dates: Fri 26 Mar to Sun 11 Apr 2027 (two weeks and 1 day, 13 of 32 councils).
- Summer holidays 2027 are Thu 1 Jul to Mon 16 Aug 2027 (six weeks and 3 days), a week later than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 26 Jun to Tue 10 Aug 2027 (six weeks and 2 days, 4 of 32 councils).
Its October holidays, Christmas holidays and February mid-term match the most common Scottish dates.
Compared with the 32 Scottish councils we have 2026/27 dates for. Every Scottish council side by side.
The best days of leave to book in 2026/27
To be off for every school holiday day in 2026/27 you'd need 65 days of leave, including the council's INSET days. Full-time workers are entitled to at least 28 days a year, and that can include the bank holidays, so most families mix leave with a second parent, family and holiday clubs. These are the holidays where a day of leave goes furthest:
Christmas 2026: book 3 days, get 11 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Easter holidays 2027: book 5 days, get 9 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Summer holidays 2027: book 4 days, get 9 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Source: West Dunbartonshire Council's term dates page, checked on 26 October 2026. Bank holidays from gov.uk.
West Dunbartonshire school holidays 2027/28
| Holiday | Off, weekends included | Leave to cover it |
|---|---|---|
| September weekend1 day | 25 to 27 Sepback Tue 28 Sep | 1 day → 3 off |
| October holidaystwo weeks | 2 to 17 Octback Mon 18 Oct | 10 days → 16 off |
| Christmas holidaysone week and 4 days | 23 Dec to 4 Janback Wed 5 Jan | 5 days → 13 off |
| February mid-term2 days | 12 to 15 Febback Wed 16 Feb INSET day | 2 days → 4 off |
| Easter holidaystwo weeks and 1 day | 1 to 17 Aprback Tue 18 Apr | 10 days → 17 off |
| May Day1 day | 29 Apr to 1 Mayback Tue 2 May | No leave |
| May weekend2 days | 26 to 29 Mayback Tue 30 May | 1 day → 4 off |
| Summer holidaysfive weeks and 4 days | 1 Jul to 10 Augback Fri 11 Aug | 28 days → 41 off |
Training (INSET) days set by the council: Fri 13 Aug 2027, Mon 16 Aug 2027, Mon 22 Nov 2027, Wed 16 Feb 2028 and Thu 25 May 2028. Pupils are off. Check with your school: schools set their other training days themselves.
Each row is a month, from the 1st on the left. The yellow stickers are the school holidays.
Term dates 2027/28
| Term | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn term | Tue 17 Aug 2027 | Wed 22 Dec 2027 |
| Spring term | Wed 5 Jan 2028 | Fri 31 Mar 2028 |
| Summer term | Tue 18 Apr 2028 | Fri 30 Jun 2028 |
The terms between Christmas, Easter and the summer; Scottish councils often number them 1 to 4. Half terms and the other holidays above fall inside them.
How West Dunbartonshire compares
- October holidays 2027 are Sat 2 Oct to Sun 17 Oct 2027 (two weeks), a week earlier than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 9 Oct to Sun 24 Oct 2027 (two weeks, 14 of 29 councils).
- Christmas 2027 is Thu 23 Dec 2027 to Tue 4 Jan 2028 (one week and 4 days), shorter than the most common Scottish dates: Wed 22 Dec 2027 to Tue 4 Jan 2028 (two weeks, 14 of 29 councils).
Its February mid-term, Easter holidays and summer holidays match the most common Scottish dates.
Compared with the 29 Scottish councils we have 2027/28 dates for. Every Scottish council side by side.
The best days of leave to book in 2027/28
To be off for every school holiday day in 2027/28 you'd need 62 days of leave, including the council's INSET days. Full-time workers are entitled to at least 28 days a year, and that can include the bank holidays, so most families mix leave with a second parent, family and holiday clubs. These are the holidays where a day of leave goes furthest:
Christmas 2027: book 3 days, get 11 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Easter holidays 2028: book 4 days, get 9 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
Summer holidays 2028: book 5 days, get 10 off
Open it in the planner to see it in your year and get the message for your manager.
About these dates: The October holiday is two weeks.
Source: West Dunbartonshire Council's term dates page, checked on 26 October 2026. Bank holidays from gov.uk.
Which schools use these dates
These are West Dunbartonshire Council's dates for its own schools. Independent schools set their own, and some local holidays vary from school to school, so check with your school before you book.
Taking children out of school in term time has its own rules: can I take my child on holiday in term time? Work in a school? Teachers and annual leave.
Questions
When are the October holidays 2027 in West Dunbartonshire?
Sat 2 Oct to Sun 17 Oct 2027, weekends included: two weeks off school. The last day of school before it is Friday 1 October and pupils go back on Monday 18 October.
When do West Dunbartonshire schools break up for Christmas 2026?
The last day of term is Friday 18 December 2026. The holiday runs Sat 19 Dec 2026 to Mon 4 Jan 2027, and schools go back on Tuesday 5 January 2027.
When are the summer holidays 2027 in West Dunbartonshire?
Thu 1 Jul to Mon 16 Aug 2027: six weeks and 3 days off school. The last day of term is Wednesday 30 June.
When are the summer holidays 2028 in West Dunbartonshire?
Sat 1 Jul to Thu 10 Aug 2028: five weeks and 4 days off school. The last day of term is Friday 30 June.
What's the best time to book annual leave around the West Dunbartonshire school holidays?
Christmas 2026: book Tue 29 to Thu 31 Dec (3 days) and you're off Friday 25 December 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027, 11 days with the children. Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and 2nd January are bank holidays, so they come free.
How much annual leave do I need to cover the West Dunbartonshire school holidays?
65 days in 2026/27 and 62 days in 2027/28, to be off for every school holiday day and the council's INSET days, Monday to Friday. With 25 days of leave that's about 38% of 2026/27.
Do all schools in West Dunbartonshire follow these dates?
These are West Dunbartonshire Council's dates for its own schools. Independent schools set their own, and some local holidays vary from school to school, so check with your school before you book.