The Scots College Term Dates: Key 2026 And 2027 Academic Calendars Released For Sydney Families
With the second half of the academic year in full swing, families and students at The Scots College are aligning their schedules with the newly finalized academic timeline. Staying ahead of official term schedules is essential for coordinating family travel, managing boarding transitions, and preparing for the school's highly anticipated seasonal GPS sporting events.
The table below outlines the confirmed schedule for the remainder of the current academic year and the upcoming terms.
| Term / Period | Start Date (Students Return) | End Date | Key Events & Holidays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 3, 2026 | Tuesday, 21 July 2026 | Friday, 18 September 2026 | GPS Athletics, Mid-Term Break |
| Term 4, 2026 | Tuesday, 13 October 2026 | Thursday, 3 December 2026 | HSC Exams, Speech Day |
| Term 1, 2027 | Wednesday, 27 January 2027 | Thursday, 8 April 2027 | Easter Long Weekend (26–29 Mar) |
| Term 2, 2027 | Tuesday, 27 April 2027 | Friday, 25 June 2027 | King's Birthday Holiday, Winter Sports |
| Term 3, 2027 | Tuesday, 20 July 2027 | Friday, 17 September 2027 | Glengarry Intake Transitions |
| Term 4, 2027 | Tuesday, 12 October 2027 | Thursday, 2 December 2027 | Speech Day & Christmas Valedictory |
Navigating the GPS Calendar and Seasonal Rhythms
As one of Sydney’s most prestigious independent boys' schools, The Scots College designs its academic calendar to balance intensive classroom learning with demanding co-curricular programs. The scheduling of mid-term breaks and start dates directly coordinates with the Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools (AAGPS) competition schedules, ensuring that students can participate in major sporting fixtures without compromising their academic progression.
A crucial element of the Scots calendar is the Year 9 Glengarry outdoor education program. This unique residential experience in the Kangaroo Valley operates on distinct intake and transition dates that run parallel to the standard Bellevue Hill campus timeline. Parents of Year 8 students preparing for the transition must pay close attention to the specific departure and return dates issued by the Glengarry campus registrars, which often require early morning departures from the main campus.
Key Planning Milestones for Boarders and Day Students
For the college's significant boarding community, term dates dictate vital travel logistics. Boarding houses typically open at 2:00pm on the day prior to classes resuming, which is usually a designated Staff Professional Development Day.
Key logistical details for families include:
- Travel Planning: Regional, interstate, and international boarders should book flights and airport transfers to align with boarding house opening times to avoid campus supervision conflicts.
- Leave Requests: The college strictly monitors attendance. Any requests for early departure or late return at the boundaries of terms must be submitted well in advance to the respective Head of House or Head of School for formal approval.
- Staff Professional Days: Mondays at the start of Term 2 and Term 3 are generally reserved for staff development, meaning students gain an extra day of holidays before classes commence on Tuesday.
Term Dates for 2025-2026 by New Hall School - Issuu
Strategic Adjustments and Long-Term Academic Goals
Looking ahead to the upcoming academic year, the college has structured terms to maximize preparation windows for senior students sitting external examinations. The layout of Term 3 and Term 4 is highly optimized for Year 12 boys preparing for the Higher School Certificate (HSC).
To prevent scheduling conflicts, families are encouraged to sync their personal digital calendars with the live updates provided via the Scots Compass portal. This ensures that any sudden adjustments to the GPS sporting fixtures, cadet camp departures, or music showcase schedules are immediately accounted for in household planning.
