University Executive Board has agreed an additional discretionary day of Wednesday 24 December 2025, in recognition of the hard work and dedication of staff members, reflected in many awards, rankings and achievements over the year.
If you have already booked annual leave on 24 December, this will be automatically adjusted in iTrent in the coming weeks and counted as a discretionary day. The additional day will be pro-rated in the leave entitlement allowance for part-time staff including those who do not work on a Wednesday, so that all staff benefit.
Colleagues in specific essential roles who are scheduled to be in work to maintain our operations on 24 December will receive pay and lieu time based on discretionary day arrangements. Term-time only staff should arrange with their line manager when they will take the additional discretionary day if this falls during their non-working week.
The University will reopen on Friday 2 January 2026.
With very best wishes
Ian Blenkharn
University Secretary & Registrar