School HolidaysAberdeenshire Council School Holidays, Half Term & Term Dates

Aberdeenshire Council School Holidays, Half Term & Term Dates 2025 - 2026

Planning a family getaway or just trying to avoid last-minute surprises? Stay on top of school term dates and holidays in Aberdeenshire Council for the years 2025 and 2026. This page has all the key dates you need to plan ahead with confidence.

Many academies and free schools have the flexibility to set their own term dates, so we recommend confirming the exact schedule with your child's school. To make things easy, we've included a link to your school's website further down this page.

What's the next school holiday in Aberdeenshire Council?

22 Dec - 2 Jan

Christmas

Starts in 27 days

Aberdeenshire Council School Holiday Dates Table 2025 - 2026

The next school holiday in Aberdeenshire Council is the Christmas holiday, running from 22 December to 2 January. After that, the Spring Half Term holiday will take place from 16 February to 20 February.

TermHoliday Dates
Spring Half Term17 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2025
Easter7 Apr 2025 - 18 Apr 2025
Summer Half Term26 May 2025 - 30 May 2025
Summer3 Jul 2025 - 14 Aug 2025
Autumn Half Term14 Oct 2025 - 25 Oct 2025
Christmas22 Dec 2025 - 2 Jan 2026
Spring Half Term16 Feb 2026 - 20 Feb 2026
Summer Half Term16 Feb 2026 - 20 Feb 2026
Easter30 Mar 2026 - 10 Apr 2026
Summer7 Jul 2026 - 15 Aug 2026
Autumn Half Term26 Oct 2026 - 30 Oct 2026
Christmas23 Dec 2026 - 4 Jan 2027

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Aberdeenshire Council School Term & Half Term Dates Table 2025 - 2026

TermTerm DatesHalf Term Dates
Spring6 Jan 2025 - 3 Apr 202517 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2025
Summer21 Apr 2025 - 4 Jul 202526 May 2025 - 30 May 2025
Autumn18 Aug 2025 - 10 Oct 202514 Oct 2025 - 25 Oct 2025
Spring5 Jan 2026 - 2 Apr 202616 Feb 2026 - 20 Feb 2026
Summer5 May 2026 - 2 Jul 202616 Feb 2026 - 20 Feb 2026
Autumn17 Aug 2026 - 22 Dec 202626 Oct 2026 - 30 Oct 2026

List of Schools in Aberdeenshire Council and Their Holiday Pages

Are you looking to find specific school holiday information for your school? Below is a list of schools in Aberdeenshire Council with direct links to their websites or dedicated holiday pages.

School NameSchool Website
Westhill Academyhttps://www.westhillschool.co.uk/termdates
Elrick Primary Schoolhttps://www.elrick.aberdeenshire.sch.uk/our-school/term-dates
Westhill Primary Schoolhttps://www.westhill.staffs.sch.uk/Parents/Term-Dates/
Dunnottar Schoolhttps://www.dunottarschool.com/school-life/term-dates/
Portlethen Academyhttps://www.portlethenacademy.aberdeenshire.sch.uk/parent-carer-area/important-dates-calendar
Fishermoss Schoolhttps://www.fishermoss.aberdeenshire.sch.uk/events/dates-for-your-diary
Banchory Academyhttps://www.banchoryacademy.aberdeenshire.sch.uk/calendar
Hill of Banchory Primary Schoolhttps://www.hillofbanchory.aberdeenshire.sch.uk/our-school/our-term-dates
Meldrum Schoolhttps://meldrumprimary.westlothian.org.uk/article/13927/School-Terms-and-Holidays
Markethill Primary Schoolhttps://www.markethillps.co.uk/page/?title=Holidays&pid=38
Turriff Primary Schoolhttps://www.turriff-pri.aberdeenshire.sch.uk/information/session-dates
Mintlaw Academyhttps://www.mintlawacademy.aberdeenshire.sch.uk/parents/dates-for-your-diary
Alford Primary Schoolhttps://alfordprimary.co.uk/dates/
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar Alfordhttps://www.queenelizabeths.co.uk/html/information/index.php?p=calendar

What’s the Difference Between a Term, a Half Term, and a Holiday?

  • Term: A block of time when schools are open, usually split into three per year – Autumn, Spring, and Summer.
  • Half Term: A short break in the middle of each term, typically lasting one week.
  • School Holidays: The longer breaks between terms, such as Christmas, Easter, and Summer.

Each term consists of one half-term, and each term concludes with a holiday. This structure is consistent across most schools in the UK.

How Are School Term Dates Decided in Aberdeenshire Council?

School term dates in Aberdeenshire Council are set by the Aberdeenshire Council, which publishes an official calendar for community and voluntary-controlled schools.

However, not all schools follow these exact dates. Academies, free schools, and independent schools have the freedom to set their own term dates, especially when it comes to inset days (staff training days) and minor adjustments.

Explore School Holiday & Term Dates in Cities Across Aberdeenshire Council

AboyneAlfordBallaterBanchoryBanffEllonFraserburghHuntlyInverurieKeith

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

School holidays in Aberdeenshire Council typically follow this annual pattern:

  • October half-term: One week in October (14 October 2025 - 25 October 2025, 26 October 2026 - 30 October 2026)
  • Christmas holidays: Two weeks in December (22 December 2025 - 2 January 2026, 23 December 2026 - 4 January 2027)
  • February half-term: One week in February (17 February 2025 - 21 February 2025, 16 February 2026 - 20 February 2026)
  • Easter holidays: Two weeks around March/April (7 April 2025 - 18 April 2025, 30 March 2026 - 10 April 2026)
  • May half-term: One week in late May (26 May 2025 - 30 May 2025, 16 February 2026 - 20 February 2026)

  • Summer holidays: Usually six weeks, beginning in late July (3 July 2025 - 14 August 2025, 7 July 2026 - 15 August 2026)

    Dates can vary between schools, especially for academies and free schools, so it's always best to check directly with your school for the most accurate information.

Not always. While Aberdeenshire Council sets standard term dates for most schools, academies and free schools may differ. So it's a good idea to double-check with your school to be sure.
No - inset days are teacher training days when staff are in school but pupils get the day off. While children don't attend, these days aren't officially considered part of the school holidays, and they can vary from school to school.