Thousands of students have skipped school and gathered in Westminster in a day of global action against climate change.

The Youth Strike 4 Climate protesters are calling on the Government to address global warming as a priority in the face of a climate crisis.

They also want to include lessons about climate change and its impacts in the school curriculum.

A hundred strike demonstrations are taking place across the country following initial strike action from 15,000 students in February.​

Parliament Square, London: Climate Change Protest - In pictures 30 show all Parliament Square, London: Climate Change Protest - In pictures 1/30 Students take part in a global school strike for climate change in Parliament Square today PA 2/30 AFP/Getty Images 3/30 Neil Hall/EPA 4/30 EPA 5/30 Reuters 6/30 PA 7/30 AFP/Getty Images 8/30 PA 9/30 AFP/Getty Images 10/30 AFP/Getty Images 11/30 PA 12/30 PA 13/30 AFP/Getty Images 14/30 PA 15/30 PA 16/30 PA 17/30 EPA 18/30 EPA 19/30 AFP/Getty Images 20/30 AFP/Getty Images 21/30 EPA 22/30 EPA 23/30 EPA 24/30 Reuters 25/30 PA 26/30 Reuters 27/30 Reuters 28/30 Reuters 29/30 PA 30/30 PA 1/30 Students take part in a global school strike for climate change in Parliament Square today PA 2/30 AFP/Getty Images 3/30 Neil Hall/EPA 4/30 EPA 5/30 Reuters 6/30 PA 7/30 AFP/Getty Images 8/30 PA 9/30 AFP/Getty Images 10/30 AFP/Getty Images 11/30 PA 12/30 PA 13/30 AFP/Getty Images 14/30 PA 15/30 PA 16/30 PA 17/30 EPA 18/30 EPA 19/30 AFP/Getty Images 20/30 AFP/Getty Images 21/30 EPA 22/30 EPA 23/30 EPA 24/30 Reuters 25/30 PA 26/30 Reuters 27/30 Reuters 28/30 Reuters 29/30 PA 30/30 PA

Young activists in London have been pictured holding placards saying "There is no Planet B" and "The ocean is rising and so are we" as they prepare to demonstrate.

The students are inspired by Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old climate change activist from Sweden who has been skipping school every Friday since last August to picket outside the Swedish Parliament (Rikstag) for tougher action on global warming.

Noga Levy-Rapoport, a 17 year-old student from Hammersmith, is attending the protest in Westminster today after describing the first demonstration in February as "life changing."

She added: “This is important in terms of a show of solidarity and sending a signal. We are here to make our voices heard and we are not going to stop until you listen to us."

As students around the world are preparing to strike in an estimated more than 1,000 demonstrations, turnout is expected to soar.

“I’m getting a massive response and the feedback from the strike was so positive,” Noga said, adding "nearly all of my schoolmates" will be attending.

While school pupils decide whether to skip school to attend the strikes, some headteachers are encouraging their students to make their voices heard within school grounds.

Paula Ledger, headteacher at Prendergast School in Lewisham, told the Standard: "We expect students to be at school and we have a legal duty to make sure that they are at school - but we are giving them the opportunity to make their views heard."

She added pupils who want to get involved in action will be taking part in a lunchtime strike on the hill so they can show solidarity with the young activists.

Ms Ledger is also keen to see discussion on the environment being given more priority in the school curriculum.

Gill Cross, deputy head teacher of Streatham & Clapham High School, said: “I have no doubt that there are going to be some serious repercussions from global warming.

“I also think that, as human beings, when we don’t agree with things we should challenge them. It’s a responsibility we all have.

“Marching is a legitimate form of protest that has been used for centuries to let governments and powerful institutions know how citizens feel.

“In terms of girls not being in school, I think if they feel a deep sense that they want their voices to be heard I think they should follow their moral codes and ethics.

“We have worries about them missing school. The more educated they are, the better equipped they will be to make positive change.

“I am also a bit worried about safety because marches can sometimes be infiltrated by people who want to cause trouble who are not to do with the march at all.”

MPs have joined together in the Conservative Climate Network to speak to students about how the climate change crisis needs to be addressed.

In a video posted on Twitter, MP for Richmond Zac Goldsmith says: "The UK has a record to be proud of, but we know there is much more to do."

The MPs continue to encourage students to stay in touch with MPs and about their concerns.

Environment secretary Michael Gove says: "Collective action of the kind that you're championing can make a difference, and a profound one."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also offered to meet with students from the Youth Strike 4 Climate to discuss how to protect the planet.