Leicestershire parents vote to keep October half term

Parents have voted to keep the school summer holidays in Leicestershire largely the same, with an early summer holiday and a one-week October half term.

More than 8,400 people have shared their views during the Leicestershire County Council consultation on schools term dates for the next five years until 2032.

The council had said that the traditional ‘Leicestershire Fortnight’, with schools breaking up for summer around two weeks earlier than many neighbouring areas, would be maintained. 

But other proposals included an earlier start back in August, with a two week break in October. 

Council officials said the most popular option was to keep a one-week October half-term. This will now be considered by the council’s cabinet when it meets on September 8th.

The council also said that feedback from families and schools has also helped shape a small change to the timing of the autumn break, with the recommended placing the October half-term in the third week of October.

Cllr Charles Pugsley, cabinet member for children and families at the county council, said:

"We're immensely grateful to everyone who took the time to share their views.

"The response showed just how important school term dates are for families, staff and communities across Leicestershire.

"The recommended model keeps the early summer break that so many families told us they value, while also responding to feedback about the timing of October half-term.

"We've also worked closely with Leicester City Council to align dates wherever possible, helping to make arrangements simpler for many families."

The consultation ran between May and June 2026 and asked people to choose between two possible models, both of which retained the traditional early summer break.

51.1% of respondents preferred a one-week October half-term, while 46.5% preferred a two-week October half-term.

The proposed dates would apply to maintained schools in Leicestershire from autumn 2027. As independent organisations, academies set their own term dates, although many choose to follow the pattern agreed by the county council.

Subject to Cabinet approval, the dates will apply to Leicestershire maintained schools from the 2027/28 academic year.