Some Azores pupils will start school five working days later
The regional education council has approved a later start for third-cycle and secondary pupils at Azores schools that teach secondary education. Other schools keep their existing start window.
Archived after its publication day. Search retains this original briefing for background and accountability.
Archived 31 August 2026Families need the date issued by their own school because the change applies by school type and year group, not to every pupil across the islands.
- The adjustment is five working days for the affected pupils.
- It applies to third-cycle and secondary levels in schools that provide secondary education.
- The affected start window is reported as 17 to 22 September.
- Schools without secondary education keep the previously planned 10 to 15 September window.
Who starts later
The change is aimed at Azores schools involved in secondary education and the national-exam process. Pupils in the third cycle and secondary level at those schools are expected to begin between 17 and 22 September, five working days later than planned.
Younger pupils are not automatically included. Schools without secondary education retain their existing opening window of 10 to 15 September.
Why the calendar moved
An extraordinary national-exam period is scheduled for 3 to 8 September. The regional decision gives teachers involved in exams and teaching allocations more time to complete that work and prepare the school year.
The reported change affects the start, not the closing date of the school year. Families should not extrapolate a new holiday calendar from the later opening.
The school’s notice is the one to follow
Because the rule depends on the levels taught by each school, a regional headline cannot settle an individual child’s first day. Check the school’s own written notice and the timetable issued for the year group.
Families arranging childcare or travel should also confirm induction days, transport and canteen opening separately. Those services may not all begin on the same day as formal classes.
What you can do now.
- 01
Check the written notice from the pupil’s school.
- 02
Confirm whether the year group is included.
- 03
Recheck school transport and meal-service start dates.
- 04
Keep the first-week timetable available offline.
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