Students and parents are eagerly looking forward to the Christmas school holidays, with some institutions in Scotland breaking up as early as next week.

The Scottish Government was in talks to extend the school holidays over the Christmas period due to coronavirus – but Education Secretary John Swinney ruled out the plan after it was discussed by the Education Recovery Group.

These are the official school holiday dates for each Scottish council area, including the day term ends and when students are set to return to classrooms in January.

Christmas holidays may be extended for students this year (Shutterstock)

Check your local council website for updates on dates and times.

Scottish exam cancellation decision expected 'before Christmas' from John Swinne...

Aberdeen City Council

Term ends Friday 18 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Monday 21 December 2020 until Monday 4 January 2021.

New term starts on Tuesday 5 January 2021.

Aberdeenshire Council

Term ends Friday 18 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Monday 21 December 2020 until Monday 4 January 2021.

New term starts on Tuesday 5 January 2021.

Angus Council

Term ends Wednesday 23 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Thursday 24 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

Argyll and Bute Council

Term ends Wednesday 23 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Thursday 24 December 2020 until Wednesday 6 January 2021.

New term starts on Thursday 7 January 2021.

Clackmannanshire Council

Term ends Wednesday 23 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Thursday 24 December 2020 until Wednesday 6 January 2021.

New term starts on Thursday 7 January 2021.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Council

Christmas holidays start Tuesday 22 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

Dumfries and Galloway

Term ends Friday 18 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Monday 21 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

Dundee Council

Term ends Wednesday 23 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Thursday 24 December 2020 until Wednesday 6 January 2021.

New term starts on Thursday 7 January 2021.

East Ayrshire Council

Term ends Friday 18 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Monday 21 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

East Dunbartonshire Council

Christmas holidays start Tuesday 22 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

East Lothian

Christmas holidays start Tuesday 22 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

East Renfrewshire

Term ends Friday 18 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Monday 21 December 2020 until Monday 4 January 2021.

New term starts on Tuesday 5 January 2021.

Edinburgh City Council

Term ends Tuesday 22 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Wednesday 23 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

Falkirk Council

Term ends Wednesday 23 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Thursday 24 December 2020 until Wednesday 6 January 2021.

New term starts on Thursday 7 January 2021.

Fife Council

Term ends Tuesday 22 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Wednesday 23 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

Glasgow City Council

Term ends Tuesday 22 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Wednesday 23 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

Highland Council

Term ends Tuesday 22 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Wednesday 23 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

Inverclyde Council

Term ends Tuesday 22 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Wednesday 23 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

Midlothian Council

Term ends Tuesday 22 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Wednesday 23 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

Moray Council

Term ends Friday 18 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Monday 21 December 2020 until Monday 4 January 2021.

New term starts on Tuesday 5 January 2021.

North Ayrshire Council

Term ends Wednesday 23 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Thursday 24 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

North Lanarkshire Council

Term ends Tuesday 22 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Wednesday 23 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

Orkney Islands Council

Term ends Friday 18 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Monday 21 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

Perth and Kinross Council

Term ends Wednesday 23 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Thursday 24 December 2020 until Wednesday 6 January 2021.

New term starts on Thursday 7 January 2021.

Renfrewshire Council

Term ends Friday 18 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Monday 21 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

Scottish Borders Council

Term ends Friday 18 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Monday 21 December 2020 until Monday 4 January 2021.

New term starts on Tuesday 5 January 2021.

Shetland Islands Council

Term ends Tuesday 22 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Wednesday 23 December 2020 until Wednesday 6 January 2021.

New term starts on Thursday 7 January 2021.

South Ayrshire Council

Term ends Tuesday 22 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Wednesday 23 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

South Lanarkshire Council

Term ends Tuesday 22 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Wednesday 23 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

Stirling Council

Term ends Wednesday 23 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Thursday 24 December 2020 until Wednesday 6 January 2021.

New term starts on Thursday 7 January 2021.

West Dunbartonshire Council

Term ends Tuesday 22 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Wednesday 23 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

West Lothian Council

Term ends Friday 18 December 2020.

Christmas holidays start Monday 21 December 2020 until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

New term starts on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

Scotland school Christmas holidays 2020: day term ends for each council area - and when pupils go back to classrooms in January