Leave HackerGuidesPlan my yearWest Lothian school holidays 2026/27 and 2027/28
West Lothian's school holidays and term dates for 2026/27 and 2027/28, from West Lothian Council. West Lothian 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). October holidays 2026 are Sat 17 Oct to Mon 26 Oct 2026 (one week and 1 day), a week later than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 10 Oct to Sun 18 Oct 2026 (one week, 11 of 32 councils).
West Lothian school holidays 2026/27
| Holiday | Off, weekends included | Leave to cover it |
|---|---|---|
| September weekend1 day, past | 19 to 21 Sepback Tue 22 Sep | 1 day → 3 off |
| October holidaysone week and 1 day | 17 to 26 Octback Tue 27 Oct | 6 days → 10 off |
| Christmas holidaystwo weeks and 1 day | 19 Dec to 4 Janback Tue 5 Jan | 7 days → 17 off |
| February mid-termone week and 1 day | 6 to 15 Febback Tue 16 Feb | 6 days → 10 off |
| Easter holidaystwo weeks and 1 day | 26 Mar to 11 Aprback Mon 12 Apr | 10 days → 17 off |
| May Day1 day | 1 to 3 Mayback Tue 4 May | No leave |
| Spring holiday1 day | 22 to 24 Mayback Tue 25 May | 1 day → 3 off |
| Summer holidaysseven weeks and 2 days | 26 Jun to 17 Augback Wed 18 Aug | 36 days → 53 off |
Training (INSET) days set by the council: Mon 26 Oct 2026, Mon 15 Feb 2027 and Thu 6 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 | Wed 12 Aug 2026 | Fri 18 Dec 2026 |
| Spring term | Tue 5 Jan 2027 | Thu 25 Mar 2027 |
| Summer term | Mon 12 Apr 2027 | Fri 25 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 Lothian compares
- October holidays 2026 are Sat 17 Oct to Mon 26 Oct 2026 (one week and 1 day), a week later than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 10 Oct to Sun 18 Oct 2026 (one week, 11 of 32 councils).
- February mid-term 2027 is Sat 6 Feb to Mon 15 Feb 2027 (one week and 1 day), a week earlier and longer than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 13 Feb to Tue 16 Feb 2027 (2 days, 8 of 32 councils).
- Summer holidays 2027 are Sat 26 Jun to Tue 17 Aug 2027 (seven weeks and 2 days), longer than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 26 Jun to Tue 10 Aug 2027 (six weeks and 2 days, 4 of 32 councils).
Its Christmas holidays and Easter holidays 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 68 days of leave, including the council's INSET day. 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 10 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.
About these dates: Staff also return two days before pupils, from 10 August. The 24 May local holiday is 7 June in the Bathgate Academy group and 15 June (Linlithgow Marches) in the Linlithgow Academy group.
Source: West Lothian Council's term dates page, checked on 26 October 2026. Bank holidays from gov.uk.
West Lothian school holidays 2027/28
| Holiday | Off, weekends included | Leave to cover it |
|---|---|---|
| September weekend2 days | 17 to 20 Sepback Tue 21 Sep | 2 days → 4 off |
| October holidaysone week and 1 day | 16 to 25 Octback Tue 26 Oct | 6 days → 10 off |
| Christmas holidaystwo weeks | 22 Dec to 4 Janback Wed 5 Jan | 6 days → 14 off |
| February mid-termone week and 1 day | 12 to 21 Febback Tue 22 Feb | 6 days → 10 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 INSET day | No leave |
| Spring holiday1 day | 20 to 22 Mayback Tue 23 May | 1 day → 3 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: Mon 25 Oct 2027, Mon 21 Feb 2028 and Tue 2 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 | Wed 18 Aug 2027 | Tue 21 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 Lothian compares
- October holidays 2027 are Sat 16 Oct to Mon 25 Oct 2027 (one week and 1 day), a week later and shorter than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 9 Oct to Sun 24 Oct 2027 (two weeks, 14 of 29 councils).
- February mid-term 2028 is Sat 12 Feb to Mon 21 Feb 2028 (one week and 1 day), longer than the most common Scottish dates: Sat 12 Feb to Tue 15 Feb 2028 (2 days, 8 of 29 councils).
Its Christmas holidays, 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 60 days of leave, including the council's INSET day. 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: Staff also return two days before pupils, from 16 August. The 22 May local holiday is 5 June in the Bathgate Academy group and 13 June (Linlithgow Marches) in the Linlithgow Academy group.
Source: West Lothian Council's term dates page, checked on 26 October 2026. Bank holidays from gov.uk.
Which schools use these dates
These are West Lothian 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 2026 in West Lothian?
Sat 17 Oct to Mon 26 Oct 2026, weekends included: one week and 1 day off school. The last day of school before it is Friday 16 October and pupils go back on Tuesday 27 October.
When are the October holidays 2027 in West Lothian?
Sat 16 Oct to Mon 25 Oct 2027, weekends included: one week and 1 day off school. The last day of school before it is Friday 15 October and pupils go back on Tuesday 26 October.
When do West Lothian 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 Lothian?
Sat 26 Jun to Tue 17 Aug 2027: seven weeks and 2 days off school. The last day of term is Friday 25 June.
When are the summer holidays 2028 in West Lothian?
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 Lothian 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 Lothian school holidays?
68 days in 2026/27 and 60 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 37% of 2026/27.
Do all schools in West Lothian follow these dates?
These are West Lothian 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.