The mid-January term 1 of the 2026 school year has opened. Coming to work on the 14th, following the long summer vacation of late 2025, first schools will open and the term will close on the 27th of March so that new learners get the first month to adapt. Autumn break days attended by learners for a while or no rest will start right from the following day (28th March to 7th April 2026).
It is advanced level. It is worth noting that the school period in the Republic of South Africa is in the realm of the northern hemisphere. As a result of this observation (which serves as an insightful provocation) to put into practice as a good and meaningful example for two-year old children, starting school period from January to March with the first trimester of school rather than in December, could also allow for the mutual experience of other remote South Africa geographic and environmental variables. Therefore, even with seasonal and/or climatic discrepancies, some ideas would be applicable in another time.
The final vacation in the academic year 2026 starts on 6 October 2026, ending on 9 December 2026. After this date, learners and teachers start the end-of-year summer holidays. Right on the heels of the school year bash are the public holidays, such as Day of Reconciliation (16 December), Christmas Day (25 December), and Day of Goodwill (26 December), extending the pulpable degrees of relaxation through the festive season.
Setting Up for the Family Ride
The dates themselves—the official term periods and holidays—will guide the vacation and allow families to plan days for it, around their child’s exams or childcare, and make the right choices. Parents looking to this national calendar must seriously put forward their foreigner schools for confirmation in certain dates that may have a small drift out.