County's July holiday fortnight could be scrapped

Leicestershire's traditional early "July fortnight" start to the summer holidays could be scrapped under new proposals by education bosses.

Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council are considering a number of new options for school calendars from autumn 2027 to summer 2032.

Both authorities said they preferred a plan that would see a two-week autumn half term break introduced as well as a shorter, five-week summer holiday.

Under the proposals, the summer holiday would start one week before the rest of the country rather than two.

Officials have acknowledged the popularity of the July Fortnight because it allows families to get cheaper deals on summer holidays abroad.

However, they have said changes would help balance out the length of terms throughout the year and could improve pupil attendance.

The Easter Bank Holiday could also either fall at the beginning or end of the Easter school holidays. Traditionally, it falls in the middle of the Easter holidays.

A six-week public consultation on potential changes will run from 20 April to 31 May.

Leicestershire schools have traditionally broken up for the summer early in July - at least two weeks before the rest of the country.

The pattern reflected the Leicestershire Workers' July Fortnight, a county-wide holiday period introduced in 1965, where factories and businesses closed for the first two weeks of July to enable workers to avoid peak holiday periods.

The idea was that each area of the Midlands would head to popular local seaside resorts - such as Skegness in Lincolnshire - at different times, preventing overcrowding.

However, the councils said the July Fortnight was no longer widely observed.

In the report, the county council said: "Many families like Leicestershire's traditional approach, which includes a very early summer break.

"This can mean cheaper family holidays, but some families face difficulties when children attending different schools in the same family, particularly around the county borders, follow different term time patterns."

The council also said the existing six-week summer holiday results in "a loss of learning, and some families also struggle with the cost of childcare".

It added: "The existing pattern includes terms of significantly different lengths, with a longer autumn term which children can struggle to manage, impacting their attendance, and shorter spring and summer terms."

The councils said they were looking at three options for term dates from autumn 2027 to summer 2032.

Leicestershire County Council last consulted people on changing school holiday dates in 2021.

There were 12,467 responses, with 69% in favour of keeping the established school holiday times, including the July Fortnight.

The city council also carried out a consultation at the time and said the "overwhelming" response from parents was to keep the existing school calendar as it currently is.

A Leicester City Council spokesperson said: "We will be consulting on proposed changes to term times at the same time as the county council, with this due to begin from Monday 20 April.

"People will be asked for their views on the same three options, with our preferred option also aligning with the county.

"This will still mean that Leicester schools break for the summer holiday a week earlier than the rest of the country and we understand how important that is to local families.

"However, it is important that we consider a range of options for autumn and summer breaks and balance school terms in a way that best supports curriculum delivery and pupil engagement."

Mother-of-three Catherine, from Coalville, said: "We already know what people will say.

"We can't lose the Leicestershire Fortnight. It's part of the DNA of this area, part of its culture.

"We're going to Wales as a family in July and it's costing under £300. If we went at the same time as the rest of the country it would be three times that.

"It's a stupid idea to get rid of it."

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