South Africa · evergreen
South African School Terms 2026 and 2027
Public-school term dates for South Africa, based on the Department of Basic Education national calendar. Use this page to plan holidays, exam prep, and tutoring around the school year - the URL stays the same each year while the dates update.
Need a tutor before exams?
Match with an online tutor for IEB, CAPS/NSC, Cambridge or IB - scheduled around your school terms.
2026 school terms
| Term | Opens (learners) | Closes (learners) |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | 14 January 2026 | 27 March 2026 |
| Term 2 | 8 April 2026 | 26 June 2026Includes Easter, Freedom Day, Workers Day, and Youth Day holidays |
| Term 3 | 21 July 2026 | 23 September 2026National Women's Day observed 10 August 2026 |
| Term 4 | 6 October 2026 | 9 December 2026 |
2027 school terms
| Term | Opens (learners) | Closes (learners) |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | 13 January 2027 | 19 March 2027 |
| Term 2 | 6 April 2027 | 25 June 2027Includes Freedom Day and Youth Day holidays |
| Term 3 | 20 July 2027 | 22 September 2027 |
| Term 4 | 5 October 2027 | 8 December 2027 |
Public holidays and school holidays
Public holidays that fall in school terms reduce teaching days. Independent and private schools may follow a different calendar - confirm with your school. For the latest official calendar PDF, see the South African Government school calendar. Western Cape and other provincial education departments publish planning calendars that follow the same national learner dates.
How tutoring fits the school calendar
Most families book extra lessons in the run-up to June exams, prelims, and final NSC or IEB papers. Online sessions can start mid-term or in the holidays - whichever fits your child's load.
Dates shown are learner open/close days from the national public-school calendar. Educator reporting days may start or end one or two days earlier or later. Always confirm with your school. Extra lessons