FOI Request - School Holiday and Term Date Planning

Request 101003800155

I am writing to make a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 regarding the process by which your Council determines school term dates, in-service days, and holiday closure dates for local authority schools.

Please provide the following information in relation to the last two academic years (2022–23 and 2023–24):

1. School Term and Holiday Date Decision-Making
a. The name or role(s) of the person(s) or committee(s) responsible for determining:
i) The start and end dates of each school term
ii) The scheduling of in-service days
iii) The allocation of holiday; both annual leave and closure days (when holiday is mentioned below, please define it as both annual leave dates -40, and school closure dates -26 ).
b. Whether these decisions are delegated to education departments, elected members, or another group.

2. Legal, Policy, or Procedural Basis
a. Any statutory basis, regulations, bye-laws, national guidance or local policy frameworks used to support or inform these decisions.
b. Please include references or links to any relevant council documents, standing orders, or working group remits.

3. Evidence of Deliberation and Decision
a. Copies of any minutes, briefing papers, consultation records, or decision logs evidencing:
i) How school term dates and holiday dates were selected
ii) Why specific holiday or in-service dates were chosen (for each individual date or group of dates running consecutive e.g. a week)
b. Please include internal or committee documentation, where available.

4. Internal Planning Templates and Guidance
a. Please provide copies of any internal templates, scheduling tools, guidance documents, or other planning materials used to draft or approve school term calendars, holiday dates, and in-service day schedules.
b. If any external tools or national planning templates were referenced (e.g., from Scottish Government or Education Scotland), please include these as well.

5. Review or Change of Practice
a. Has the Council undertaken any formal reviews or consultations in the last two years specifically regarding:
i) The structure of school terms
ii) The timing of holidays or in-service days
iii) Alignment with neighbouring councils or national strategy?
b. If so, please provide copies of the documentation or reports arising from these reviews.