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newsMar 27, 20261:14

Leicester Schools' July Fortnight: A Beloved Tradition at Risk?

About this episode

Leicester schools traditional two-week July break, a cherished tradition since the 1960s, faces a potential change. The Leicestershire County Council proposed shortening it to one week, but the Leicester City Council, led by Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, advocates for maintaining the status quo. The decision hinges on a public consultation later this spring, as opposition leaders argue that scrapping the extra week would burden families with increased costs and childcare challenges.

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Leicester Schools' July Fortnight: A Beloved Tradition at Risk?

Leicester News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

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Leicester News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!Leicester Schools' July Fortnight: A Beloved Tradition at Risk?. Machine-transcribed; use the interactive transcript above to jump the player to any line.

Lester schools have a unique summer tradition called the July Fortnite, where they break up two weeks earlier than the rest of the United Kingdom. This practice dates back to the 1960s, tied to old factory schedules, and it lets families snag cheaper holidays during quieter times. Earlier this week, on March 24th, Lestershire County Council talked about shortening the break to just one week early to align more with national dates. But they pulled the proposal off the table for now, saying they need to reconsider their options. At a Lester City Council meeting on March 26th, Mayer Sir Peter Solzby made it clear he wants to stick with the traditional two week break. He pointed out that past feedback from residents has always strongly favored keeping things as they are. The mayor announced a public consultation coming up later this spring to hear directly from the community. Opposition leaders chimed in too, stressing that scrapping the extra week would hit families hard with higher costs and child care headaches right when.

Budgets are tight. For now, the beloved early summer escape hangs in the balance, but local leaders seem united in protecting what works for Lester families. You've been listening to Lester News today, AI-powered local news.

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