In South Africa, the school year typically runs from January to December, divided into four terms, with breaks between them. Understanding the school terms and public holidays is essential for parents, students, and educators as they plan vacations, family gatherings, and school activities. Below is a detailed overview of the 2025 school terms and public holidays in South Africa.
School Terms for 2025
South African schools generally follow the Department of Basic Education’s calendar, which breaks the year into four terms. Each term is followed by a break of two weeks, except for the longer winter and summer holidays. The specific dates for the school terms in 2025 are as follows:
Term 1
-
Start: Wednesday, 15 January 2025
-
End: Friday, 28 March 2025
-
Break: Saturday, 29 March – Monday, 7 April 2025 (Autumn break, 10 days)
Term 1 begins in mid-January after the summer holidays and runs for about 11 weeks. It concludes at the end of March, followed by a short autumn break before the second term begins.
Term 2
-
Start: Tuesday, 8 April 2025
-
End: Friday, 27 June 2025
-
Break: Saturday, 28 June – Monday, 21 July 2025 (Winter break, 24 days)
The second term begins in early April and continues through the autumn into winter, lasting around 12 weeks. Learners and teachers then enjoy a longer winter holiday before resuming for Term 3.
Term 3
-
Start: Tuesday, 22 July 2025
-
End: Friday, 3 October 2025
-
Break: Saturday, 4 October – Sunday, 12 October 2025 (Spring break, 9 days)
This term spans late winter into early spring and lasts approximately 11 weeks. It is followed by a short spring break before the final stretch of the academic year.
Term 4
-
Start: Monday, 13 October 2025
-
End: Wednesday, 10 December 2025 (or Friday, 12 December if extended)
-
Break: Thursday, 11 December 2025 – Tuesday, 14 January 2026 (Summer break, 33–35 days)
The last term of the year runs from mid-October until early to mid-December. It typically includes year-end exams and wraps up the academic programme, followed by the long summer holiday leading into the next school year.
| Term | Start | End | Break | Break Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Wed, 15 Jan 2025 | Fri, 28 Mar 2025 | Sat, 29 Mar – Mon, 7 Apr 2025 | 10 days (1 week, 3 days) | Runs ~11 weeks, ends before autumn break. |
| Term 2 | Tue, 8 Apr 2025 | Fri, 27 Jun 2025 | Sat, 28 Jun – Mon, 21 Jul 2025 | 24 days (3 weeks, 3 days) | ~12 weeks, long winter break after. |
| Term 3 | Tue, 22 Jul 2025 | Fri, 3 Oct 2025 | Sat, 4 Oct – Sun, 12 Oct 2025 | 9 days (1 week, 2 days) | ~11 weeks, followed by short spring break. |
| Term 4 | Mon, 13 Oct 2025 | Wed, 10 Dec 2025 (or Fri, 12 Dec) | Thu, 11 Dec 2025 – Tue, 14 Jan 2026 | 33–35 days (4–5 weeks) | Final exams and year-end wrap-up. |
Public Holidays in 2025
South Africa observes several public holidays throughout the year, and many of them coincide with school breaks. The following public holidays are celebrated in 2025:
January:
- New Year’s Day: Wednesday, 1 January 2025
- Human Rights Day: Monday, 21 March 2025 (falls within Term 1)
April:
- Good Friday: Friday, 18 April 2025 (falls during Term 1)
- Family Day: Monday, 21 April 2025 (falls during Term 1)
- Freedom Day: Sunday, 27 April 2025 (observed on Monday, 28 April 2025)
May:
- Workers’ Day: Thursday, 1 May 2025
- Africa Day: Monday, 25 May 2025 (observed, but not a public holiday)
June:
- Youth Day: Tuesday, 16 June 2025 (falls during Term 2)
August:
- National Women’s Day: Saturday, 9 August 2025
September:
- Heritage Day: Wednesday, 24 September 2025 (falls during Term 3)
December:
- Day of Reconciliation: Tuesday, 16 December 2025
- Christmas Day: Thursday, 25 December 2025
- Day of Goodwill: Friday, 26 December 2025
