Pupils are banned from joining protests during school hours after reports of children skipping class to attend pro-Palestine and climate change demonstrations

• The new rule comes into effect in August as part of a drive to boost attendance

Pupils have been banned from going on protests during school hours under new Government guidance.

It comes after numerous reports of children skipping classes to attend pro-Palestine rallies and climate change demonstrations, sometimes with the support of teachers.

Yesterday, the Department for Education published a new document making clear headteachers must not authorise such absences.

The new rule, which comes into effect in August, are part of a drive to boost attendance following the pandemic.

It states: ‘Leave of absence should not be granted for a pupil to take part in protest activity during school hours.’

Pupils have been banned from going on protests during school hours under new Government guidance

In November, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said she was ‘deeply concerned’ over the sight of pupils taking part in pro-Palestinian protests during the school day.

School Strike for Palestine marches have taken place across the UK following the October 7 massacre, with events in cities including London, Bristol and Glasgow.

Before the pandemic, pupils across the UK took part in a series of school strikes, led by climate activist Greta Thunberg, on global warming.

In March 2019, Edinburgh City Council said children absent from school to take part in climate strikes would not be penalised for doing so as long as they had permission of parents or carers.

But Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: ‘We’re not sure this is terribly helpful.

The ban comes after numerous reports of children skipping classes to attend pro-Palestine rallies and climate change demonstrations, sometimes with the support of teachers

In November, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said she was ‘deeply concerned’ over the sight of pupils taking part in pro-Palestinian protests during the school day

The new rule, which comes into effect in August, are part of a drive to boost attendance following the pandemic

School Strike for Palestine marches have taken place across the UK following the October 7 massacre, with events in cities including London, Bristol and Glasgow

‘Our view is certainly that pupils should not miss school to take part in protests.

‘It is not only a matter of their lost learning but the fact that the school has to manage and follow up their absence.

‘But it is also the nature of these things that the pupils involved in protests feel very strongly indeed about the cause over which they are protesting, and that this can be a very difficult and sensitive situation to manage.

‘As such, we feel that these are matters that are best left to the discretion of schools.’

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