Quick answer
A pupil-free day is a school day when teachers and staff are at work but students stay home. They are not school holidays and not public holidays, so they are not part of the term dates. In 2027 the statewide dates are confirmed for New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania. In the other states, each school announces its own days.
What is a pupil-free day?
It is a weekday inside the school year used for staff training, planning and student assessment moderation. Different states give them different names: school development days in New South Wales, staff professional development days in Queensland, professional learning days in Tasmania, and student-free days or curriculum days in some other places. Families often need to arrange care for these days, even though the school is open for staff.
Which states have confirmed 2027 pupil-free days?
| State | Day | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Term 1 (Eastern division) | Thu 28 Jan to Tue 2 Feb 2027 | Staff days before students return |
| New South Wales | Term 1 (Western division) | Thu 4 Feb to Tue 9 Feb 2027 | Students start Wed 10 Feb |
| New South Wales | Term 2 | Tue 27 and Wed 28 Apr 2027 | All divisions |
| New South Wales | Term 3 | Mon 19 Jul 2027 | All divisions |
| New South Wales | Term 4 | Mon 20 Dec 2027 | All divisions |
| Queensland | Term 1 | Thu 21, Fri 22 and Mon 25 Jan 2027 | Before students start (21 and 22 Jan are the fixed days) |
| Queensland | Term 2 | Thu 8 and Fri 9 Apr 2027 | Start of Term 2 |
| Queensland | Term 3 | Fri 3 Sep 2027 | Mid-term |
| Tasmania | Term 2 | Fri 11 Jun 2027 | Statewide, Kindergarten to Year 12 |
| Tasmania | Term 3 | Mon 19 Jul 2027 | Statewide, Kindergarten to Year 10 |
| Tasmania | Term 4 | Fri 22 Oct 2027 | South only, Kindergarten to Year 10 |
| Tasmania | Term 4 | Fri 29 Oct 2027 | North only, Kindergarten to Year 10 |
The New South Wales days are School Development Days set by the department. The Queensland calendar is also subject to change. Always check with your local school, because dates can change.
What about Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, the ACT and the Northern Territory?
No statewide list of 2027 pupil-free days is published for these places. Schools set or announce their own days, usually in the school calendar or newsletter, so the number and dates can differ between two schools in the same suburb.
- Victoria: Teachers start on Wed 27 Jan 2027 and students on Thu 28 Jan. Other days are set by each school.
- Western Australia: Schools plan their own development days.
- South Australia: Schools set their own days.
- Australian Capital Territory: No 2027 student-free days are listed yet.
- Northern Territory: Teachers start on Mon 25 Jan 2027 and students on Wed 27 Jan.
Are pupil-free days counted in the term?
Not in our school-day counts. The term tracker counts weekdays between the first and last day of a term, so pupil-free days are not taken off. Your school may therefore have a few fewer student days than the tracker shows. See how school days are counted for the full rule.
How can I plan for pupil-free days?
Put the statewide dates in your calendar now and check your school's newsletter for extra ones. Many schools offer vacation care or a program on these days, and some run them as a bridge to a long weekend. Use the school holidays pages and the long weekends page to line up leave.
Frequently asked questions
What does pupil free day mean?
It is a school day when staff are at school for training or planning and students do not attend.
Is a pupil-free day a school holiday?
No. School holidays sit between terms. A pupil-free day falls inside the term.
Are pupil-free days the same as public holidays?
No. Public holidays apply to everyone in a state. Pupil-free days only apply to schools.
Do all schools in a state have the same pupil-free days?
In New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania the main days are set statewide, though Tasmania splits two days between the south and north. In other states schools choose their own.
Where do I find my school's pupil-free days?
Check your school newsletter, website or term calendar. It is the most reliable place for the exact dates.
More dates
See how school terms work, the back to school dates or the term dates for every state.