Thousands of school pupils across the UK could pour out of their classes this Friday for a nationwide ‘strike’ over climate change.

The protest, dubbed the UK Youth Strike 4 Climate, has 38 towns and cities signed up to stage their own ‘strike’ events on February 15.

They include London, Cardiff, Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Manchester and Belfast .


The day of protest takes place in 38 towns and cities who have all signed up for their own events (Picture: Twitter/Strike4Youth)

But as school pupils don’t have any right to strike in law, they run the risk of being recorded absent – with the threat of penalty notices – unless their respective schools authorise the day off.

In a statement, UK Youth Strike 4 Climate said: ‘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. For some this falls on half term; join the protest anyway, with youth from across the world.’

The Department for Education has said the strike is a matter for school headteachers to decide over.

But normally pupils can only taken term-time leave in ‘exceptional circumstances’, guidance says.

Striking high school students march to protest for more effective government climate change policy on January 25 in Berlin, Germany (Picture: Getty)

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It is unlikely to deter many students however who have signed up to the protest, which was inspired by 16-year-old Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg who last August missed school to protest about climate change outside the country’s parliament building.

The UK protests are set to follow suit, with London’s event taking place from 11am to 2pm in Parliament Square, according to the Youth Strike 4 Climate – London Facebook page – while Cardiff’s takes place outside the Welsh National Assembly.

The National Association of Headteachers said although students getting involved in social issues was positive, schools had to be cautious they didn’t ‘miss out’ on their education.

Students protest for climate action during a ‘Fridays for Future’ school strike in Magdeburg, Germany earlier this month (Picture: DPA)

The momentum for Friday has gathered pace, according to Strike4Youth, but it will be up to schools to decide whether students are allowed to take the day off lawfully (Picture: Twitter/Strike4Youth)

A spokesman said: ‘First and foremost it is the headteacher’s job to ensure children attend school and receive a good quality of education.

‘There is no reason why a young person’s desire to get involved in social issues should get in the way of their schooling.

‘Whilst it will be for individual school leaders to decide how best to respond to any proposed protest, few would condone young people missing out on education as a consequence.’

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