Victorian School Holidays and Term Dates 2027

The Victorian Government sets the term dates for every government school, primary and secondary. Catholic and independent schools publish their own calendars, which comes up further down.

Easter falls at the start of the Term 1 holidays.

Most of the year's other fixed dates fall during term: three public holidays, NAPLAN for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9, and the main dates for VCE students.

Your child's school sets its test days inside the NAPLAN window, following national rules that put the writing test first, on Wednesday 10 March. If your child is in Year 7, our guide to Year 7 NAPLAN explains what the four tests look like.

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA), which runs the VCE, will publish each subject's 2027 exam date on its examination timetable page. For a Year 12 student, our guide to the 2027 VCE exam timetable follows the exam period in more detail.

A few days in the year are up to each school. A government school can have up to five student-free days a year, when teachers work but students stay home. The first day of Term 1 is always one, which is why students start on Thursday 28 January, a day after teachers. Schools are asked to set them well ahead, so the school newsletter, app or website is the place to find them for your calendar. Secondary students' last day of Term 4 can also differ from 17 December, and the school confirms it.

For a child starting secondary school, our Year 7 transition checklist covers the summer break and the first weeks of Term 1.

For 2027, the Catholic schools in the Melbourne Archdiocese list the same term dates as government schools. If your child is at an independent school, or a Catholic school in another diocese, the school's own calendar is the one to go by.

When does school go back in 2028?

Students in government schools start Term 1 on Friday 28 January 2028.

Will Prep start differently?

It can. In January and February, a government school can have Prep students come four days a week or start later in the day, and can finish their day from 2 pm. You can ask the school what it plans for Prep in Term 1.

What if a family trip falls during term?

You can talk to the school before you book. The Victorian Government asks families to keep holidays to the school holidays, and a trip during term needs to be discussed with the school in advance. The school then decides whether your child can miss those days.

We checked these official sources on 6 November 2026.