Pupil-Free Days SA 2027: Dates Set by Your School
Check how South Australian schools set their 2027 student-free days, the extra planning-day allowance and the notice parents should receive.
South Australian government schools choose their own 2027 student-free dates. There is no statewide date list to copy: the principal approves the days, with governing council endorsement, and the school must give parents at least a month's notice.
How many student-free days can a school use?
| School or arrangement | Allowance | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary school allowance | Up to three days | Your school's selected dates |
| Small school with 2–3 teaching staff, including the principal | Up to four days | Whether this category applies |
| Additional 2025–2029 planning allocation | Two extra days | Whether and when your school uses them |
| Teacher duty before the school year | Two mandatory days, separate | These are not part of the student-free allowance |
These are allowances, not a confirmed count for your school. A temporary school closure can reduce the ordinary allowance by one day under the procedure. The two additional days support strategy, curriculum and Early Years Learning Framework planning.
Keep student-free days and closure days separate
The department's procedure covers student-free days, school closures and early dismissals as separate arrangements. When your school sends its calendar, check which applies: an early finish needs a different care booking from a full day without students.
Do not add the two mandatory teacher duty days before the school year to a list of days missed during term. For the published term boundaries, use the SA 2027 school calendar.
What to ask your school
Schools must publish approved dates on their websites. Ask whether any additional planning days remain to be scheduled and how changes will be communicated. The one-month notice rule is a minimum, not a guarantee that every date will be available at the start of the year.
Record the confirmed dates on the SA term planner and check availability with your care provider. Catholic and independent school arrangements may differ.
Official source
Checked 20 September 2026 against pages 11–13 of the Department for Education's Organising the school and preschool year procedure. See the state-by-state comparison for other public-school systems.
Frequently asked questions
Are SA pupil-free days the same at every school in 2027?
No. Schools select and approve their dates locally. Check each school's calendar if your children attend different schools.
Does the extra planning allocation apply in 2027?
Yes. The current procedure makes two additional student-free days available during 2025–2029. Your school must confirm which dates it will use.
How much notice should parents receive?
At least one month for student-free days under the department's procedure. Contact the school if a date is unclear or missing from its calendar.
Related tools
Picked for South Australia, 2027.
Printable calendar
SA2027Print a full year or a single month with public holidays and school terms, or save it as a PDF.
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SA2027Lay out each school term week by week with space for notes, ready to print on A4.
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