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About our schools
Orkney schools calendar
Find term dates, holidays and in-service days for schools across Orkney.
| Term 1 | Tuesday 18 August – Friday 9 October. (39 days) |
| October holidays | Monday 12 October – Tuesday 27 October. |
| Term 2 | Wednesday 28 October – Friday 18 December. (38 days) |
| Christmas holidays | Monday 21 December – Monday 4 January. |
| Term 3 | Tuesday 5 January – Friday 26 March. (55 days) |
| Schools closed | Thursday 11 February – Tuesday 16 February. |
| Spring holidays | Monday 29 March – Friday 9 April. (Easter Monday 29 March). |
| Term 4 | Monday 12 April – Friday 2 July. (58 days) |
| Schools closed | Monday 3 May (May Day holiday). |
| Schools closed | Monday 31 May. |
Related resources
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Schools Calendar 2026-2027
This document contains school term dates for 2026 / 2027. Term 1 runs from 18 August to 9 October, Term 2 from 28 October to 18 December, Term 3 from 5 January to 26 March, and Term 4 from 12 April to 2 July, with holiday periods and school closure dates listed. It also gives staff-only in-service days on 17 August, 26 and 27 October, 16 February and 31 May.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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Schools Calendar 2027-2030
This document contains school calendars for 2027 to 2030. They show Orkney Islands Council public holidays in red, school holidays highlighted in yellow, and in-service days when pupils are off school highlighted in blue.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
Curriculum for Excellence
Our schools follow Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), in place across Scotland since 2010. CfE is intended to help children and young people gain the knowledge, skills and attributes needed for life in the 21st century, helping them to become:
- successful learners
- confident individuals
- responsible citizens
- effective contributors
Gaelic provision
The Education (Scotland) Act 2016 places a duty on us to promote and support Gaelic medium education (GME) and Gaelic learner education (GLE) in Orkney, and sets out the process by which parents can request Gaelic medium primary education (GMPE).
If you'd like to discuss Gaelic Medium Primary Education, please contact us.
Young Enterprise Scotland
Pupils in S6 have the opportunity to take part in the Young Enterprise Scotland initiative, testing out business ideas by running their own companies, supported by local business advisers. Students gain valuable experience working as a team, making decisions, dealing with the public and meeting deadlines.