A TEACHERS' union has backed a nationwide school strike over climate change - sparking fears thousands of pupils will walk out.

Students in 38 cities and towns across the UK are expected to join the Youth Strike 4 Climate protest on Friday.

6 Students across the UK will protest on Friday Credit: Facebook/UK youth Strike 4 climate

During the demo, pupils will down their books for three hours, reports the Sunday Express.

Thousands of students are expected to walk out amid growing concern about global warming.

The move has been "applauded" by the National Association of Head Teachers.

A spokesman said: "When you get older pupils making an informed decision, that kind of thing needs to be applauded.

BOOKS DOWN

"Society makes leaps forward when people are prepared to take action.

"Schools encourage students to develop a wider understanding of the world around them. A day of activity like this could be an important and valuable life experience."

However others criticised the action, including William Wragg MP, a former primary teacher, who told The Sunday Express: “It’s far more fruitful to learn about climate change in school. The idea of a day of protest, I don’t see what learning will come out of it.”

BACKED BY UNION

And Toby Young, former director of the New Schools Network said the strike was "just truanting".

Posting on their Facebook page, the UK Youth Strike 4 Climate group said: "The World's Youth are waking up.

Millions of young people are realising it's now or never and are now taking direct action on the climate crisis and ecological catastrophe UK Youth Strike 4 Climate

"Millions of young people are realising it's now or never and are now taking direct action on the climate crisis and ecological catastrophe.

"Whether you are at school, college or uni, go on strike on the Friday 15th February."

Similar protests have been held in individual UK cities and other countries, including Australia, Belgium and the Netherlands. But Friday will be the first nationwide day of action.

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Organisers took the lead from Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old activist who refused to attend school so she could protest outside the Swedish parliament building last August.

She now strikes every Friday to protest the lack of effective climate legislation on a governmental level with many students across Europe following suit.

Students from schools in London, Glasgow, Belfast, Leeds, Sheffield, Edinburgh and other cities and towns will strike on Friday.

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