Public Holiday Proposal FIFA Men’s World Cup, 15 June 2026 ECSPB
Renfrewshire Council · 21 May 2026
Back to Education and Children's Services Policy Board — 21 May 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
PUBLIC Page 1 of 6 To: Education and Children’s Services Policy Board On: 21 May 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Children’s Services ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Public Holiday Proposal: FIFA Men’s World Cup, 15 June 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 The Scottish Government has designated Monday 15 June 2026 as a national bank holiday to celebrate Scotland’s participation in the FIFA Men’s World Cup. This was confirmed through Royal Proclamation on the 4 February 2026. 1.2 Although nationally recognised, the adoption of this date as a local public holiday remains a discretionary decision for each Council. Across Scotland, Councils are taking differing approaches. 1.3 The council’s Finance, Resources and Customer Service Policy Board met on 23 April 2026, and approved the additional public holiday proposal to celebrate the FIFA Men’s World Cup. 1.4 A request was submitted to the Scottish Government for a conditional exceptional school closure on 15 June 2026 to align with the proposed bank holiday. This exemption from the requirement for 190 school days was lodged by the 23 March deadline. 1.5 The Scottish Government has approved the request, subject to conditions, ensuring Members retain the option to designate the day as an additional school closure. 1.6 If Members approve this additional public holiday, this will be communicated across educational establishments and communities through usual channels.
Page 2
PUBLIC Page 2 of 6 ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 Members are asked to: • Approve the Public Holiday Proposal for all Educational Establishments as reflected at appendix 2 of this board report. This is in line with the Finance, Resources and Customer Service Policy Board decision to agree to the additional public holiday at its meeting on 23 April 2026, to celebrate the FIFA Men’s World Cup; • Note the Scottish Government’s approval of a conditional exceptional school closure on this date to celebrate the public holiday, changing school closure days for 2025/2026 to 27 days instead of 26 days; • Instruct the Director of Children’s Services to implement and communicate the decision agreed by Members. ___________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 Members have previously agreed the school holiday calendar for school session 2025/206. This is attached is appendix 1 to this board paper. 3.2 The Council has on previous occasions, aligned its public holiday schedule with nationally determined arrangements. This included adjustments made during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 to support extended national celebrations, and again in 2022 when the UK wide changes introduced for the Platinum Jubilee moved the traditional late May bank holiday to early June and added an additional day of celebration. The Council also observed the national public holiday declared for the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, during which all schools and nurseries in Renfrewshire were closed. Collectively, these changes required significant planning and coordination across schools, early years provision, essential services and partner organisations. 3.3 Historically, such adjustments have been directly linked to nationally significant events occurring on, or intrinsically connected to, the designated holiday date. In this instance, Scotland’s opening match is scheduled for 2.00am on Sunday 14 June, with the public holiday as proposed by the Scottish Government being scheduled on Monday 15 June 2026. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of this report 1. Financial None. 2. HR and Organisational Development
Page 3
PUBLIC Page 3 of 6 The number of school closure days for school session 2025/2026 will increase from 26 days to 27 days to accommodate the additional public holiday. 3. Community/Council Planning None 4. Legal None. 5. Property/Assets None. 6. Information Technology None. 7. Equality and Human Rights The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of any reassessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health and Safety None. 9. Procurement None. 10. Risk None. 11. Privacy Impact None. 12. Climate Risk None. 13. Children’s Rights None. 14. Cosla Policy Position None. List of Background Papers
Page 4
PUBLIC Page 4 of 6 (a) Background Paper 1: (delete row if not used or add further rows if required or state ‘none’) The foregoing background papers will be retained within children’s services for inspection by the public for the prescribed period of four years from the date of the meeting. The contact officer within the service is Laura Baillie, Resources Support Manager. laura.baillie@Renfrewshire.gov.uk ___________________________________________________________________ Children’s Services GMcL/LB 29/04/26 Author: Laura Baillie, Resources Support Manager laura.baillie@renfrewshire.gov.uk
Page 5
PUBLIC Page 5 of 6
Page 6
PUBLIC Page 6 of 6 2 In-service days on return in August 1 Day St Andrews Day (in December as 30/11/25 is weekend) Stop for Christmas Friday 19 December 2025 2 Day February Break 1 Day Start of May 1 day End of May Additional Public Holiday 15 June 2026 Finish for Summer Break Tuesday 30 June 2026 Term Break Dates of Attendance First In-Service Day - Closed for Pupils Only Thursday 14 August 2025 (IS) In-Service Day - Closed for Pupils Only Friday 15 August 2025 (IS) Schools Re-Open Monday 18 August 2025 Local Holiday/Closed Schools Closed Friday 26 September 2025 Schools Closed Monday 29 September 2025 Schools Re-Open Tuesday 30 September 2025 Mid Term Schools Closed Monday 13 October 2025 Schools Closed Tuesday 14 October 2025 Schools Closed Wednesday 15 October 2025 Schools Closed Thursday 16 October 2025 Schools Closed Friday 17 October 2025 In-Service Day - Closed for Pupils Only Monday 20 October 2025 (IS) Schools Re-Open Tuesday 21 October 2025 St Andrew's Day Schools Closed Monday 1 December 2025 Schools Re-open Tuesday 2 December 2025 Christmas Schools Closed Monday 22 December 2025 Schools Closed Tuesday 23 December 2025 Schools Closed Wednesday 24 December 2025 Schools Closed Thursday 25 December 2025 Schools Closed Friday 26 December 2025 Schools Closed Monday 29 December 2025 Second Schools Closed Tuesday 30 December 2025 Schools Closed Wednesday 31 December 2025 Schools Closed Thursday 1 January 2026 Schools Closed Friday 2 January 2026 Schools Closed Monday 5 January 2026 Schools Re-Open Tuesday 6 January 2026 Mid-Term Schools Closed Monday 16 February 2026 Schools Closed Tuesday 17 February 2026 In-Service Day - Closed for Pupils Only Wednesday 18 February 2026 (IS) Schools Re-Open Thursday 19 February 2026 Spring Schools Closed Friday 3 April 2026 Schools Closed Monday 6 April 2026 Schools Closed Tuesday 7 April 2026 Schools Closed Wednesday 8 April 2026 Schools Closed Thursday 9 April 2026 Schools Closed Friday 10 April 2026 Schools Closed Monday 13 April 2026 Schools Closed Tuesday 14 April 2026 Schools Closed Wednesday 15 April 2026 Schools Closed Thursday 16 April 2026 Schools Closed Friday 17 April 2026 Schools Re-Open Monday 20 April 2026 May Day Schools Closed Monday 4 May 2026 Schools Re-Open Tuesday 5 May 2026 In-Service Day - Closed for Pupils Only (election day) Thursday 7 May 2026 (IS) Local Holiday/Closed Schools Closed Monday 25 May 2026 Schools Re-Open Tuesday 26 May 2026 Additional Public HolidaSchools Closed Monday 15 June 2026 End of session Schools Closed Wednesday 1 July 2026 Teachers Return - Friday 14 August 2026 (IS) - In-Service Day In-Service Days (Only Staff Attend on these days - No Pupils) Thursday 14/08/25 Friday 15/08/25 Monday 21/10/25 Wednesday 18/02/26 Thursday 07/05/26 Election Date Renfrewshire Council Proposed Change to School Holiday Arrangements School Session 2025/2026