When are the WA school term dates and therefore the school holidays WA has on offer this year? Don’t get caught out with an unexpected day off school. Start the 2023 school year on a good note by staying on top of the school holiday dates, public holidays, and student free days.
Whether you’re in the process of planning an exciting school holiday getaway or just want to know when your kids will be at school during term time, you’re in the right place. This article will help by offering a list of school holidays WA dates for 2023 and 2024.
If you are looking for school holiday activities to do with your kids in Western Australia , then we have compiled articles about what is going on for each set of school holidays across WA. You can find them here:
- Perth school holiday activities
- Mandurah school holiday activities
- Bunbury school holiday activities
- Geraldton school holiday activities
- Margaret River school holiday activities
If you are looking for school holiday programs in Perth where your kids can stay all day/week/holiday, then we have that too!
Why do state schools and private schools have different holidays?
As you’re pondering the WA school holidays, you’ll likely notice state schools and private schools have a different set of holiday dates (particularly over the summer) – but why?
The Western Australia Department Of Education sets the dates for all state schools in WA, focused on keeping the 4 terms as equal as possible and aiming for a 10-week term. Though sometimes this simply isn’t possible, particularly due to where Easter falls in the calendar.
However, the process is slightly different for private schools. Independent and Catholic schools set their school holidays, but base them on the state school holiday dates. Although, between each private school, these dates are bound to differ slightly.
Before the school years commences for 2023, be sure to research your child’s independent or catholic school’s holiday dates just to be sure.
WA state school term dates 2023
| Term | Date | Length |
| Term 1 | Wednesday 1 February – Thursday 6 April | 10 weeks |
| Term 2 | Monday 24 April – Friday 30 June | 10 weeks |
| Term 3 | Monday 17 July – Friday 22 September | 10 weeks |
| Term 4 | Monday 9 October – Thursday 14 December | 10 weeks |
Western Australia state school holidays 2023
Summer school holiday dates:
16 December 2022 (Friday) – 31 January 2023 (Tuesday)
Easter school holiday dates:
7 April (Friday) – 23 April (Sunday)
Winter school holiday dates:
1 July (Saturday) – 16 July (Sunday)
Spring school holiday dates:
23 September (Saturday) – 8 October (Sunday)
Summer school holiday dates:
15 December 2023 (Friday) – 30 January 2024 (Tuesday)
WA State School Term Dates 2024
| Term | Date | Length |
| Term 1 | Wednesday 31 January – Thursday 28 March | 10 weeks |
| Term 2 | Monday 15 April – Friday 28 June | 10 weeks |
| Term 3 | Monday 15 July – Friday 20 September | 10 weeks |
| Term 4 | Monday 7 October – Thursday 12 December | 10 weeks |
Western Australia state school holidays dates 2024
Summer school holiday dates:
15 December 2023 (Friday) – 30 January 2024 (Tuesday)
Easter school holiday dates:
29 March (Friday) – 14 April (Sunday)
Winter school holiday dates:
29 June (Saturday) – 14 July (Sunday)
Spring school holiday dates:
21 September (Saturday) – 6 October (Sunday)
Summer school holiday dates:
13 December 2024 (Friday) – 4 February 2025 (Tuesday)
Private schools (Catholic and Independent schools holidays)
The key difference between state and private schools is that private schools are independently managed. This means that they aren’t under administration from any state or national governments, and are privately funded. This can ultimately play a role in the difference in school holiday dates.
Although independent and catholic schools are managed independently, the school holidays WA dates are often similar to state schools, but there are often a few small variations.
As each private school is managed separately, WA school holiday dates are bound to vary between institutions. Before adding these dates to your 2023 school calendar, be sure to check your individual private school for their specific set of school holiday dates.
Western Australia school holidays dates 2023 – private schools
Summer school holiday dates:
16 December 2022 (Friday) – 31 January 2023 (Tuesday)
Easter school holiday dates:
7 April (Friday) – 23 April (Sunday)
Winter school holiday dates:
1 July (Saturday) – 16 July (Sunday)
Spring school holiday dates:
23 September (Saturday) – 8 October (Sunday)
Summer school holiday dates:
15 December 2023 (Friday) – 30 January 2024 (Tuesday)
Western Australia school holidays dates 2024 – private schools
Summer school holiday dates:
15 December 2023 (Friday) – 30 January 2024 (Tuesday)
Easter school holiday dates:
29 March (Friday) – 14 April (Sunday)
Winter school holiday dates:
29 June (Saturday) – 14 July (Sunday)
Spring school holiday dates:
21 September (Saturday) – 6 October (Sunday)
Summer school holiday dates:
13 December 2024 (Friday) – 4 February 2025 (Tuesday)
WA student free days
Not only are kids granted a school-free day on school holidays, but also student free days – with various dates scattered throughout the year.
These dates are designed for teachers and other staff members, where they’ll spend these days going over topics like the code of conduct, fire training, and the strategic direction of the school. For parents, this essentially means that kids have these days off from school.
To avoid being caught off guard by these dates, consider getting in touch with your individual school to figure when their student free days will be.
WA public holidays
Aside from the school holidays WA and student free days, there are also a variety of public holidays scattered throughout the year that will deliver kids a day off school.
Established by Australian law, these public or national holidays are either surrounding a holiday, special event, or historic occasion – such as Christmas, Good Friday, Labour Day, or Anzac Day. As a result, these specific dates aren’t only non-working days for parents, but also school-free days.
Though public holidays can vary from state to state, here is a list of the top 2023 WA public holidays that may be worth including in your WA school holidays calendar.
Western Australia public holidays 2023
- New Year’s Day – 1 & 2 January (Sunday & Monday)
- Australia Day – 26 January (Thursday)
- Labour Day – 6 March (Monday)
- Good Friday – 7 April (Friday)
- Holy Saturday – 8 April (Saturday)
- Easter Sunday – 9 April (Sunday)
- Easter Monday – 10 April (Monday)
- Anzac Day – 25 April (Tuesday)
- Western Australia Day – 5 June (Monday)
- King’s Birthday – 25 September (Monday)
- Christmas – 25 December (Monday)
- Boxing Day – 26 December (Tuesday)
By incorporating a blend of school holidays WA dates, student-free days, and public holidays into your WA school holidays calendar, you can ensure that you’ll never be caught off guard with a sudden day off school. On top of this, you’ll have plenty of prep time to plan some exciting activities for the kids to enjoy on their school holidays.