School pupils ditched classes to show their anger over rocketing university fees with mass protests in Manchester city centre and Bury.
Teenagers from across Greater Manchester joined university students on a city centre demonstration - despite protests from teachers.
Police said more than 3,000 people took part in the demonstration on Oxford Road, part of a national day of action by students.
Naomi Gennery, 15, led a walkout of around 60 students from Chorlton High School after getting her parents to write a letter giving their consent.
She said: "The teachers asked us to stay in the school and have a demonstration but we decided that, rather than disrupt classes, we would going the main protest.
"Everyone who left got a letter from their parents which we gave to the attendance officer but we were told we’d be marked absent.
"We did it because it will make it harder for poorer students to go to university. It is going to hit us just as we finish school."
She and others now face being marked as truant after organising their walkout over internet site Facebook.
But the Chorlton teenager, who was joined by older brother Robbie, an A-level student at Xaverian College, had the blessing of parents Michael and Lynda.
Dad Michael said: "It is Naomi’s generation that will really be affected by this. We are fully supportive of her taking part in the protest."
Teachers – who had tried to avert the mutiny by encouraging pupils to protest in the playground during break-time - were last night unavailable to comment.
Speaking prior to the walkout, Andy Park, headteacher of Cholrton High School, said he planned to take a strict line.
He said: "Our view is that school time must be spent on lessons. It is especially important for our Year 11 students as they prepare for exams. We understand that feelings are high. I met with students during the week and as a compromise we suggested they protest during break."
See videos of the Bury protest below...
Dozens of Year 10 and 11 pupils from Parrenthorn High School in Prestwich also ditched their lessons to take part in a demonstration.
Several students from Xaverian College in Rusholme and Loreto College, Hulme, also missed lectures to protest.
Senior officers praised the behaviour of protestors, although four people were arrested for minor offences.
Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan, said: "Those who have taken part deserve credit for conducting themselves in a way that ensured the demonstrations were peaceful."
Earlier in the day, 1,200 college students demonstrated outside Bury town hall. Students from Bury College and Holy Cross College spent an hour waving placards and chanting.
Local authority bosses decided to close the building although the demonstration passed off peacefully.
Bury College student Samir Karnik, 18, said: "Students are angry because these cuts will hit both us and generations to come."
The Coalition Government proposes to raise the current fee cap of £3,290 to £9,000. Universities which charge £6,000 or more would be required to provide extra support for poor students.
Click on the grey box below to replay our live coverage of the day of protest, or click here if you are reading on a mobile device.
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"Were"? It hasn't even started yet! Bit to early for the students. I know this paper has pretty shoddy journalism but this is rather quite daft.
Also, the police can have a robust presence but when that starts to intimidate people participating in perfectly peaceful activities, as is too often the case, it is unacceptable and the police might want to remember they're getting pretty horrendous cuts too...
London mark 2 ?
I just hope that this remains peaceful.
Obviously not that committed to education otherwise they would have been studying rather than walking the streets.
I really do have to surpress a smile when I hear that students are going on strike,do they imagine that the country will grind to a halt all because a few long haired morons refuse to attend their lessons,or maybe they think that everyone will go down on their knees and beg them to return to their lectures.The fact is it will make about has much difference to how the country goes about its daily life has if say all the zoo keepers went on strike or dare I say all the social workers joined them.I.E. no difference at all.God give me strength!!!
Hope the protests are more peaceful today ... good luck to all the Police Officers that are working, stay safe!
It does of course depend on whether or not they wake up in time, then realise it's cold today.
You are marching for a just cause today but violence and criminal damage does not work with modern government. Read about the miners and the printers of the 80's before you go out today.
They want to label you lazy and violent. Don't give them the chance.
Bring London to a standstill on the day of the royal wedding. There you go and that's free of charge.
£9000 a year to get an education is a disgrace but does not justify a police man getting a fire extinguisher on his head. The lucky ones amongst you have all got dads too. think about it.
Its starting at the 'tin can' at manchester university and moving down past MMU and up to town hall. there has been an effort to get a coordinated walkout nationwide. The last protests were the biggest since the poll tax but unfortunate to get violent as thats not what we need. I hope today will be bigger and peaceful. Education effects us all, its a right not a privilege. I graduated in the summer as a primary teacher but i am supporting my 16year old sister who may be priced out of education. This is a symbol for the frustration about all the cuts that are affecting all of us and i urge people to attend even just during your lunch hour, thats what im doing!
We, businesses on Oxford Road, have been advised to bring any external furniture and signs in that could be used as weapons!!
I sincerley hope it will be a peaceful protest..........
I'm sorry but why are students from Bury College even getting involved? None of them are going to uni anyway!
Anyone know whats happening with the christmas market at Albert Square seeming as they are ending at the town hall?
Just curious, wouldn't like to see it getting trashed!
can i put a order in for some Wii accessory's, black controller and numchuck and a couple games wouldn't go amiss LOL. in all seriousness i think your wasting your time. the powers to be have made up there minds and things will not be changed.
Haven't these yobs got lectures to go to?
They can protest all they like as long as they DON'T damage/vandalise ANY public property paid for by the tax payer.
I hope the policing operation will not be costing the tax payer significant sums of money.
At the end of the day as long as they remain peaceful, do not damage property and the tax payer does NOT have to pick up the bill for their protests, then they are likely to gather public support of some kind!
However, go against that and I'm highly confident the public WILL turn against them and quite rightfully so.
Throw the book at them I say if they step over that line!
Time for the student population of Manchester to show that they can conduct themselves with dignity and professionalism, unlike those attending the London thug element - counterparts!
They have just moved past Oxford Road, it is worrying to see just how many had their faces covered.
If they are protesting for a cause they believe in and are proud of tell me why they have to hide their faces?
Simple solution. Reduce the price of lager!
Peacefull protesting is everyones human right and I agree with it as long as it is PEACEFULL , but to those few that are causing violence you should be arrested and charged and kicked out of uni. Violence solves nothing it just shows how stupid you really are
lol all the students voted for the libdems and got shafted...if the kids cant go uni because of the fees then there will be that will mean 500000 a year people joining the ranks of the unemployed ...times that by 65pounds aweek giro ...housing benifit ...ect ect its gonna cost the goverment a whole lot more than leaving fees alone...even the tory voters on here can not tell that amount of people to get jobs....
The tax dodging parasites!
many years ago only the well off went uni ...and the rest left school and went into industry..there aint no industry left so if all the kids dont go uni where do they go ....500000 of them year on year and raise the retirement age as well
KEEP IT UP ( STAND FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN )
Take away their beer money = Problem.
Boji's surgeon, Stockport (24/11/2010 at 16:02)
The tax dodging parasites!
Please do not tar us all with that brush; I worked my way through university just as many others do. I have always payed tax thank you very much!!!
Clear off you soap dodgers!!