When does school go back in 2027? For Victorian government schools, Term 1 starts on Wednesday 27 January, and students start on Thursday 28 January 2027. Here are all four Victorian school term dates for 2027, the school holidays in between, the 2028 dates for planning ahead, and the checks and tests that usually fall in each term.
Victorian school term dates for 2027
These are the dates the Victorian Government publishes for government schools.
| Term | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Wednesday 27 January (students start Thursday 28 January) | Thursday 25 March |
| Term 2 | Monday 12 April | Friday 25 June |
| Term 3 | Monday 12 July | Friday 17 September |
| Term 4 | Monday 4 October | Friday 17 December |
Last checked 17 October 2026. The Victorian Government updated its term dates page on 2 October 2026. Dates can change, so check the official page before you book anything big.
A few things to keep in mind:
- These are government school dates. Catholic and independent schools can set their own, so check with your child’s school.
- The first day for teachers isn’t the first day for students. In government schools, Term 1 starts on the Wednesday, and students start on the Thursday.
- Starting Prep? Some schools organise the first days of Prep in their own way. Ask your school what your child’s first week looks like.
- Other states have their own dates. If you live outside Victoria, check your state or territory education department.
School holidays in Victoria in 2027
The holidays are the gaps between the terms. Counting from the day after each term ends to the day before the next one starts, here is how 2027 looks:
| Holidays | Dates |
|---|---|
| Term 1 holidays (autumn, with Easter) | Friday 26 March to Sunday 11 April |
| Term 2 holidays (winter) | Saturday 26 June to Sunday 11 July |
| Term 3 holidays (spring) | Saturday 18 September to Sunday 3 October |
| Summer holidays | From Saturday 18 December |
Term 1 ends on Thursday 25 March, the day before Good Friday (Easter Sunday is 28 March in 2027), so the autumn holidays take in the whole Easter long weekend.
And the summer break before it? Term 4 2026 ends on Friday 18 December 2026, so for most families the holidays run from 19 December to 27 January, almost six weeks. Our gentle summer holiday plan has ten-minute ideas and free things to do.
Planning ahead: 2028 term dates
The Victorian Government has published 2028 too, which helps if you’re planning a big trip or a move.
| Term | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Thursday 27 January (students start Friday 28 January) | Friday 31 March |
| Term 2 | Tuesday 18 April | Friday 30 June |
| Term 3 | Monday 17 July | Friday 22 September |
| Term 4 | Monday 9 October | Thursday 21 December |
What happens in each term
Every school plans its own year, with its own camps, sports days and concerts. But a few statewide and national checks and tests land at roughly the same time each year. Here are the ones that are set or announced.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Term 1: 10 to 22 March 2027 | NAPLAN for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9, in every state. Year 3 writing is on paper; the other tests are online. |
| Term 2: usually June | The selective entry high schools exam, sat in Year 8 for a Year 9 place. In 2026 it was on Saturday 20 June. The 2027 date hasn’t been published yet. |
| Term 3: weeks 4 to 6 | The Year 1 Phonics Check in government schools, plus the optional Year 2 Phonics Check Reassessment in the same window. |
| Not announced yet | The Year 1 Numeracy Check. The Department says it will be mandatory in government primary schools from 2027, but the timing hasn’t been published. |
If your child is in Year 1, our guide to the Year 1 Phonics Check explains what happens and what the score means, and our post on the Year 1 Numeracy Check covers what’s been announced so far. For Year 3 and up, see NAPLAN explained for parents.
How to plan the school year
A little planning at the start of the year saves a lot of last-minute scrambling. A few ideas that suit most families:
- Put the terms on the fridge. Write the four start and end dates on a family calendar, then add school events as the newsletters arrive.
- Mark the big weeks. If your child is sitting NAPLAN or a check, note the window, so you can keep that week calm: early nights, a good breakfast, no big outings the night before.
- Plan the holidays early. Holiday programs, camps and trips book out. Knowing the dates now gives you the best choice.
- Keep a light rhythm. Ten minutes of reading most days, in term time and holidays, matters more than any big push before a test.
- Make it a learning game. Counting the days to the holidays, finding the month and the day of the week, and working out “how many weeks until Term 2” are all real calendar maths.
Starting Prep in 2027? The first weeks are a big change, and the summer before is a lovely time to practise the self-care skills that matter most. Our calm checklist for starting Prep has a plan, ten minutes at a time.
Questions parents ask
When does school go back in 2027 in Victoria?
In Victorian government schools, Term 1 2027 starts on Wednesday 27 January, and students start on Thursday 28 January 2027. Catholic and independent schools can set their own dates, so check with your school.
When are the school holidays in Victoria in 2027?
Counting from the day after each term ends: Friday 26 March to Sunday 11 April, Saturday 26 June to Sunday 11 July, Saturday 18 September to Sunday 3 October, and the summer holidays from Saturday 18 December 2027.
When are the Easter holidays in 2027?
Term 1 ends on Thursday 25 March 2027, the day before Good Friday, and Term 2 starts on Monday 12 April. So the Term 1 holidays include the Easter long weekend.
What are the Victorian school term dates for 2028?
Term 1: Thursday 27 January (students Friday 28 January) to Friday 31 March. Term 2: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 30 June. Term 3: Monday 17 July to Friday 22 September. Term 4: Monday 9 October to Thursday 21 December.
When is NAPLAN in 2027?
NAPLAN runs from 10 to 22 March 2027, in Term 1, for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 across Australia.
When is the Year 1 Phonics Check in 2027?
Victorian government schools run it in weeks 4 to 6 of Term 3. The optional Year 2 reassessment uses the same window. Your school will tell you the exact days.
Sources
- School term dates and holidays in Victoria, Victorian Government
- NAPLAN key dates, Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA)
- Assessment of Student Achievement and Progress Foundation to 10: policy, Victorian Department of Education
- Victorian Year 1 Phonics Check, Victorian Government
- Selective entry high schools, Victorian Government
