Back to School 2027: Dates and Checklist
When schools open in 2027, and everything to sort out before the first day, one step at a time.
Public schools open in
Wednesday, 13 January 2027. Term 1 ends Friday, 19 March 2027.
Add 2027 school terms to your calendar
Opening and closing days, school holidays and public holidays. Subscribe once and new dates appear in your calendar by themselves.
Prefer a one-off file? Download the dates. Other calendar apps: add this address as a subscription: https://noadmin.co.za/calendars/school-terms.ics
Private school? Find your school’s own dates. All 2027 terms: school terms 2027.
Your back-to-school checklist
Now to early December
- Plan January’s costsFees, uniforms, stationery and transport for each child, and what to save each month.
- Check if you qualify for fee exemptionPublic school parents can apply for full or partial exemption. Apply early in the year.
- Sell outgrown uniformsPrice second-hand uniforms and make a list to share in the parents’ group.
December holidays
Key dates
- Schools close for the holidaysWed, 9 December 2026
- Schools openWed, 13 January 2027
- Term 1 endsFri, 19 March 2027
- Term 2 startsTue, 6 April 2027
Matric? See what to do after results. Applying for Grade 1 or Grade 8 in 2028? See applications by province.
How it works
Dates come from the Department of Basic Education’s DBE: Published 2027 School Calendar (Government Gazette No. 52178, 25 Feb 2025) and 2026 calendar. They apply to public schools in all nine provinces. Individual schools may add a few days for staff development, so check your school’s own letter too.
Figures last checked against official sources on .
Questions
When do schools open in 2027?
Public schools open on Wednesday, 13 January 2027 for learners in all nine provinces. Term 1 ends on Friday, 19 March 2027. Teachers usually start a few days earlier.
When do schools close for the December 2026 holidays?
Public schools close on Wednesday, 9 December 2026. Some schools use Friday, 11 December 2026 instead, so check your school’s letter.
Do private schools open on the same day?
Not always. Independent schools set their own terms. Look up your school in the private school term dates tool for its own countdown.
Can a public school refuse my child because I haven’t paid fees?
No. A public school may not refuse admission, keep a child out of class or hold back a report because fees are unpaid. If paying is hard, apply for fee exemption.