Parents and teachers “overwhelmingly” want to keep the Leicestershire Fortnight, but some have said the current summer break in the county is “too long”.

Some councillors from Leicestershire County Council have written to the authority’s cabinet, saying that residents do not want any changes to the county’s school holidays.

However, some parents said that the current term time is too long, while shortening and moving it would be a good idea.

It comes as education leaders at the city and county councils look at changing their traditional early summer break, proposing a number of changes between autumn 2027 and summer 2032.

Leicestershire schools usually break up for the summer earlier than the rest of the country to align with the traditional 1960s ‘July Fortnight’ when local factories would shut down.

Both councils are looking at three proposals, with the city and county’s preferred model meaning parents would lose a week from the July Fortnight and extend the autumn half-term break.

Education leaders and bosses have said that the changes will help prevent a rise in child protection referrals, allow families greater flexibility to align with other children outside the county, and reduce sickness and tiredness during the autumn term.

In a letter to Leicestershire County Council leaders, Loughborough Labour councillors Jewel Miah and Beverley Grey say they have had “numerous contacts” with parents who say they don’t want the July Fortnight to disappear and want “no changes” to the current terms.

The letter reads: “The main reason cited in the report for change is to balance out term dates, and some children may have differing term dates if they attend schools outside of the county.

“We are not certain that these two reasons outweigh the massive financial disadvantage that Leicestershire residents will immediately face if changes are made.

“Overwhelmingly, the feedback received is that residents prefer the status quo. The earlier break gives them the financial benefit of being able to take their families on holiday at an affordable time and when more holiday destinations are readily available.

“Any changes would mean additional financial costs and dwindling destination choices, something which we are sure the Cabinet does not wish to burden Leicestershire residents with”.

Cllr Miah said he asked residents for their thoughts on social media and has received responses from parents and teachers who oppose any changes around the July Fortnight.

He said: “It’s come as a bit of a surprise to people that this was even being discussed. People see it as a way of getting holidays cheaper, but they don’t see the need for it to change.

“Those two weeks are very well used because it’s several hundred pounds cheaper for them to go on holiday.

“I asked people online their thoughts, and it was so overwhelming the number of people who don’t want it to change, but even teachers got in touch with me to say they prefer to work in Leicestershire because it has the early holidays, because it’s affordable for them as well.

“The overwhelming response is ‘please don’t let this happen, please don’t let them change it’”.

Parents also shared their views on changing the summer break, receiving varied responses.

One parent, who did not wish to be named, lives in the rural village of Ibstock and claimed the summer break is “too long”.

She said: “I don’t mind it being shortened and put somewhere else. It’s quite disruptive to a child’s routine to be away for so long.

“Parents are often climbing the walls from what I’ve heard by the end of the holiday. In terms of the July fortnight, we don’t go away anyway, so it doesn’t affect us personally”.

Another parent who lives in Ibstock told the LDRS that they also never book holidays around the summer because it is “extortionate”.

She added: “We never tend to book around the summer because of how expensive it is, so we tend to book around the autumn break, so the changes might actually suit us.

“But even then, we find that because everyone is trying to match up all the holidays around the country, it’s so hard to find something cheap.

“We’re paying like £500 more than we used to, and that’s because the holidays are changing.

“I also think the summer break is far too long. Children like routine, and if you’re keeping them out of school for 6 to 7 weeks at a time, it’s just too much. Moving it around would make more sense”.

A Leicestershire County Council spokesperson said: “We have a legal responsibility to set the county’s term dates and must consult when we do.

“But more than that, asking people for their feedback is really important, as it ensures that the patterns we have in place continue to work for parents, carers, young people, school staff and residents.

“This consultation will provide a real opportunity for people to share their thoughts with us and let us know what works for them, and we look forward to hearing all views as part of this process.”

The county council’s consultation will run from April 20 to May 31 and will be conducted primarily via an online survey.

Chris Harper (Local Democracy Reporter)