2027 school calendar: All the term dates and holidays for SA pupils

South African parents can start planning for the 2027 school year, with the Department of Basic Education’s official calendar setting out the dates for all four terms.

The 2027 public school calendar applies nationally, with pupils returning to school in January and the academic year ending in December.

The calendar was published in the Government Gazette in February 2025.

When does school start in 2027?

For learners, the first term of the 2027 school year starts on Wednesday, 13 January 2027.

Term 1 will run until Friday, 19 March 2027.

Educators return earlier, however, on 11 January, for administrative and preparation days.

2027 school term dates

Term	Start date	End date	School days
Term 1	13 January 2027	19 March 2027	48
Term 2	6 April 2027	25 June 2027	56
Term 3	20 July 2027	22 September 2027	46
Term 4	5 October 2027	8 December 2027	47

The gazetted calendar provides for 197 actual school days for learners across the four terms.

Term 1: 13 January to 19 March

The first term will run for 10 weeks, with pupils returning on Wednesday, 13 January. The term ends on Friday, 19 March, after which pupils will have their first school holiday of the year.

The calendar records 48 actual school days during the term.

Term 2: 6 April to 25 June

Pupils return for the second term on Tuesday, 6 April 2027. The term ends on Friday, 25 June, with 56 actual school days.

There are also several public holidays and a special school holiday during this term.

These include:

• Monday, 26 April: Special school holiday
• Tuesday, 27 April: Freedom Day
• Saturday, 1 May: Workers’ Day
• Wednesday, 16 June: Youth Day

The 26 April special school holiday falls immediately before Freedom Day, giving pupils an additional day off during the term.

Term 3: 20 July to 22 September

The third term starts on Tuesday, 20 July 2027. It runs until Wednesday, 22 September, with 46 actual school days.

National Women’s Day on 9 August also falls during this term.

Pupils will then have a break before returning for the final term of the year.

Term 4: 5 October to 8 December

The final term of 2027 starts on Tuesday, 5 October. For learners, the final day of the school year is Wednesday, 8 December 2027.

The gazetted calendar also lists 10 December in brackets, which relates to administrative days for educators.

2027 school holidays

The main breaks between the four terms are:

School break	Dates
First holiday	20 March – 5 April 2027
Mid-year holiday	26 June – 19 July 2027
September holiday	23 September – 4 October 2027
End-of-year holiday	From 9 December 2027

These dates are derived from the learner term dates in the gazetted calendar.

Parents should also take note of the public holidays that fall during the school year. These include:

• 21 March – Human Rights Day
• 22 March – Public holiday
• 26 March – Good Friday
• 29 March – Family Day
• 26 April – Special school holiday
• 27 April – Freedom Day
• 1 May – Workers’ Day
• 16 June – Youth Day
• 9 August – National Women’s Day
• 24 September – Heritage Day
• 16 December – Day of Reconciliation
• 25 December – Christmas Day
• 26 December – Day of Goodwill
• 27 December – Public holiday