About the programme
School’s Out is High Life Highland’s holiday activity programme, running every Easter, summer and October half-term across the Highlands. With over 1,000 activities to choose from, there’s something for every age, from babies and toddlers right through to teens.
Activities take place at leisure centres, schools, libraries and community venues right across the Highlands. Both free and paid options are available, so families can enjoy the programme whatever their budget.
School’s Out is available to all highlife card holders, but members get exclusive early access — giving them first pick of the most popular activities before general bookings open.
School's Out Summer 2026
School's Out summer activities run from 6th July to 14th August. Browse the full programme and save your favourites from 2nd June — one week before bookings open.
View activities
What's on?
Activities include swimming lessons and swim schools, sports camps and multi-sports, gymnastics, athletics, aqua fit and gym sessions for teens, outdoor adventures with Countryside Rangers, arts and crafts, creative and library activities, Bookbug sessions for babies and toddlers, and much more.
High Life Highland is proud to be part of Summer of Sport, a national campaign backed by the Scottish Government and sportscotland, bringing even more opportunities for children and young people to get active.
How to book
Follow these steps to get your children signed up before spaces fill up.
1. Get your highlife card
You will need a highlife card for each and every person you wish to book on your chosen summer activities - if you don't already have one you can sign up here. If you already have a highlife card for a library but have not activated it as a leisure card, then pop into your local leisure centre and they will activate it for the booking system or email the highlife Central Team on highlife@highlifehighland.com.
2. Make sure your account has an email address
You’ll need your email address and password to log in to the booking system. If no email is linked to your highlife account, visit your local leisure centre or email highlife@highlifehighland.com.
3. Browse and save your favourites
The activity programme will be published on 2nd June 2026 ahead of bookings opening. Log in, browse the full list, and tap the heart symbol (♥) on any activity to save it to ‘My Favourites’. This makes checkout much faster when bookings go live.
4. Join the waiting room at booking time
To give everyone a fair chance of securing a place, we use a virtual waiting room for School’s Out bookings. Please have your email address and password ready to log in. Your saved favourites will be ready to add straight to your basket.
- Members get access at 12pm (noon)
- Pay As You Go card holders join at 3pm.
Joining before 12pm does not guarantee your place in the queue. When bookings open at 12pm, all users in the waiting room are assigned a random position — this is a normal feature. If you join after 12pm, you will be placed at the end of the queue.
5. Look out for free activities added throughout the holiday
Free activities are added to the programme throughout the holiday period - so even if you miss the initial rush, there are always more opportunities to book.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a highlife card to book?
| You will need a highlife card for each and every person you wish to book on your chosen summer activities - if you don't already have one you can sign up here. If you already have a highlife card for a library but have not activated it as a leisure card, then pop into your local leisure centre and they will activate it for the booking system or email the highlife Central Team on highlife@highlifehighland.com. |
What’s the difference between a highlife member and a Pay As You Go card holder?
| highlife members get early booking access at 12pm (noon) on the day bookings open — three hours ahead of Pay As You Go card holders, who can book from 3pm. A membership also gives you access to leisure centres, fitness classes, and a range of other benefits year-round. |
When does the programme run?
| School’s Out runs during all three main Scottish school holiday periods: Easter, summer (July–August), and October half-term. Booking dates vary each period — check our website or follow us on social media for the latest information. |
How do I add activities to my favourites?
| Log in to the booking system and browse the activity listings. Tap the heart icon (♥) on any activity to save it. Your saved items appear under ‘My Favourites’ in your account, ready to add to your basket when bookings open. |
Are all activities paid, or are some free?
| Both free and paid activities are available. Free activities are added to the site every two weeks throughout the holiday period, so even if you miss the opening rush, there are always new free options appearing. |
What if I have a library highlife card but not a leisure card?
| If your highlife card is registered for library use but hasn’t been activated as a leisure card, visit your local leisure centre and staff will activate it for the booking system. You can also email highlife@highlifehighland.com. |
My highlife account doesn’t have an email address linked — what do I do?
| You need an email address connected to your account to log in to the booking system. Visit your local leisure centre and our team will set this up for you, or email highlife@highlifehighland.com. |
Why is there a waiting room when bookings open?
| Due to the popularity of the programme, a virtual waiting room is in place to manage high demand fairly and ensure a smoother checkout experience for everyone. Adding your favourites in advance means you can move through checkout as quickly as possible once you reach the front of the queue. |
What age is School’s Out for?
| The programme runs from babies and toddlers (Bookbug sessions and soft play) right through to teens. The majority of activities are aimed at primary school-age children, but there is something for all ages. Check individual activity listings for specific age guidance. |