Up to 500 schools close in France over student protests - BBC News                            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwkg5n7lm3y5o)  (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwkg5n7lm3y5o)  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwkg5n7lm3y5o)  (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwkg5n7lm3y5o)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-36.413a37b227.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-48.010dc96bcf.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-57.1fcd0dc805.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-60.52f68a148f.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-72.f155fdb25f.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-76.cb5ee392d4.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-96.35ee2d1e20.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-114.7ccdf53cba.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-120.73e20442a9.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-128.060d346f09.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-144.e08bc23631.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-152.4de1981be0.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-180.1a18cb7b72.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-192.3ac042fa43.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-384.728e3a03d3.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-512.685da29e9e.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/favicon/news/favicon-16.8a240ceacc.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/favicon/news/favicon-32.5cf4e6db02.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/manifest.11b0cb15658c4719a2c19e25644577223adaa7b2.json)   (https://www.bbc.com)   BBC Homepage    (cwkg5n7lm3y5o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#main-heading) Skip to content  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/) Accessibility Help          (https://account.bbc.com/account?lang=en-GB&ptrt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticles%2Fcwkg5n7lm3y5o)    Your account       (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (cwkg5n7lm3y5o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#global-navigation-more-menu)    More menu     (cwkg5n7lm3y5o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#global-navigation-more-menu)   More menu    (https://www.bbc.com/search?d=NEWS_GNL)    Search BBC      (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (cwkg5n7lm3y5o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#more-menu-button)   Close menu          (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news)   BBC News      (cwkg5n7lm3y5o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#product-navigation-menu)    Menu  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news) Home   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cmj34zmwm1zt) Climate   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world) World   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/us_and_canada) US & Canada   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk) UK   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business) Business   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology) Tech   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment) Science   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment_and_arts) Entertainment & Arts   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health) Health     (cwkg5n7lm3y5o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#product-navigation-more-menu)    More     (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in_pictures) In Pictures   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/bbcverify) BBC Verify   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat) Newsbeat         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world) World   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/africa) Africa   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/asia) Asia   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/australia) Australia   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/europe) Europe   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/latin_america) Latin America   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/middle_east) Middle East           France closes up to 500 schools Monday over student protests      (French CRS riot police stand in position amid clashes during a protest by high school students outside the Lycee Deodat-de-Severac high school as part of nationwide protests by high school students to demand the hiring of substitute teachers, increased resources and better learning conditions, in Toulouse as more than 400 schools remain closed following days of student protests that have escalated into violence in some places, France, October 2, 2026.)    Image source,  Reuters  Image caption,  French riot police were deployed to the manage the protests on Friday        By Jack Burgess     Published 4 October 2026        Updated 8 hours ago       Up to 500 schools across France will be partially or totally closed on Monday after clashes between riot police and student protesters in recent days, the French education minister said on Sunday.  Lessons will be "totally or partly suspended" in some "400 to 500" high schools as security conditions "have not been fulfilled", Édouard Geffray said.  He also said 24 schools had been "burned or ransacked" since the start of the protests.  Thousands of (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck3r5dxxwqzpo) students have been demonstrating over education standards and the protests, which started last week, have spread from Paris to other cities, including Montpellier, Nantes and Marseille. High school pupils and others have objected to a lack of teachers, overcrowded classrooms and run-down buildings. On Friday, French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said 735 of France's 3,700 schools had been affected "one way or another" by violent protests. The education minister warned the number of schools potentially affected on Monday could be comparable to Friday's figure but promised a "partial, progressive return to lessons". "There are activists - particularly from the far-left - who have infiltrated the high school student movement, hijacked it from the students themselves, and engaged in extreme violence," Édouard Geffray claimed. "Clearly, this poses a risk to both our staff and our students," he said. Geffray added that 78 staff members in education had been wounded, which he described as "something we have never seen before". On Friday 1,747 people were arrested, according to French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.  Over 5,000 people have been arrested altogether since the start of the movement, according the AFP news agency, with around 85% of them minors.      (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck3r5dxxwqzpo) Riot police clash with students as education protests rage in France       Published 2 days ago         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c69wzjjxex8po) School protests send shivers down French government's spine       Published 3 days ago             Organisers of the protests have called for the demonstrations to continue on Tuesday after accusing the government of a lack of "concrete measures", according to AFP. On Sunday, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said his government is taking further steps to "address the difficulties faced by high school students and educational staff".  He said this includes ensuring classes continue, improving facilities, better organising school days and making the French university admissions platform more transparent.  Lecornu also said the government is accelerating the review of its "vandal-pays" bill to ensure that people responsible for damage bear the cost of their actions.     Related topics  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c302m85qenyt) France  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c40rjmqdl7zt) Schools  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/europe) Europe           (vertical video collection) The video playlist   Watch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC      Previous     Next         1:18 Five-year-old rescued from well after days trapped. 00:01:18, play video Five-year-old rescued from well after days trapped    (A number of men crouch over a well with a line and torch looking down.)           1:12 Brazil election goes to run-off as Bolsonaro wins first round. 00:01:12, play video Brazil election goes to run-off as Bolsonaro wins first round    (Flávio Bolsonaro has short dark hair and is wearing a bright yellow, short-sleeved shirt.)           0:57 How much is your salary? 00:00:57, play video How much is your salary?    (A woman stands in the street, wearing a navy top and smiling in front of a mic.)           1:09 Why are so many children starting school in nappies? 00:01:09, play video Why are so many children starting school in nappies?    (A potty is in the centre of a child's playroom. It is surrounded by toys on a shelf and a pram.)           1:27 Why it may be time to ditch premium bonds. 00:01:27, play video Why it may be time to ditch premium bonds    (Martin Lewis has short dark hair and is wearing headphones and a purple top.)           0:54 The first Woman's Hour script from 1946. 00:00:54, play video The first Woman's Hour script from 1946    (Nuala McGovern has long red hair, is wearing glasses and is holding a paper script.)           0:59 'What rollers?' - Memorable Glastonbury fan moments. 00:00:59, play video 'What rollers?' - Memorable Glastonbury fan moments    (A smiling woman with rollers in her hair, standing in a field)           0:31 Rare tornado whips through small Australian town. 00:00:31, play video Rare tornado whips through small Australian town    (A tornado passes through a residential area.)           0:51 How can the UK face drought and floods at same time? 00:00:51, play video How can the UK face drought and floods at same time?    (An image of drought affected ground alongside a water stream, with green hills in the background.)           1:31 'Really tough': Badenoch on threats to politicians. 00:01:31, play video 'Really tough': Badenoch on threats to politicians    (Badenoch speaking to Laura Kuenssberg during interview, she wears a black and white button jumper.)           1:27 How AI can boost your chances of finding a new job. 00:01:27, play video How AI can boost your chances of finding a new job    (Man wearing white shirt looks at the camera)           1:27 A love story born during World War II. 00:01:27, play video A love story born during World War II    (A black and white photo of a man (left) and a woman (right) on their wedding day.)           0:45 'We talk about everything' Dakota Johnson on her bff Taylor Swift. 00:00:45, play video 'We talk about everything' Dakota Johnson on her bff Taylor Swift    (Taylor Swift and Dakota Johnson lay in bed facing each other looking at each other with their hands resting under their faces.)           1:08 New sniffer dog team to detect drugs used in spiking. 00:01:08, play video New sniffer dog team to detect drugs used in spiking    (A black dog.)           1:19 Have you heard about this 90 second rule? 00:01:19, play video Have you heard about this 90 second rule?    (A bald man, Aaron Dale, with a dark beard wearing a cream jumper.)           1:22 Why students and riot police are clashing in Paris. 00:01:22, play video Why students and riot police are clashing in Paris    (A group of protestors on the street burning a bike and bin.)           1:19 Photos reveal the lives of Auschwitz perpetrators. 00:01:19, play video Photos reveal the lives of Auschwitz perpetrators    (A black and white picture of a man and woman in uniform relaxing in deckchairs)           1:15 Teammates hailed after saving footballer's life. 00:01:15, play video Teammates hailed after saving footballer's life    (Man with dark brown hair wearing a red track suit top seated)           1:01 ‘I’d never take two weeks’: What's leave like in NYC? 00:01:01, play video ‘I’d never take two weeks’: What's leave like in NYC?    (Two women sit together, one holds a microphone)               Top stories (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmy56yvv1kxxo) No 10 insists RAF Fairford is safe after US withdraws bombers     Published 18 minutes ago            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cv62yd93z906o) What we know about former Prince Andrew's legal action against police     Published 24 minutes ago            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr20w64ll61lo) Twelve arrests after protest over migrant boat arrival     Published 8 minutes ago                More to explore (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cje3r35p0qeno) The job interview question you don't have to answer      (Woman sits at a table in an office being interviewed by a man and a woman whose blurred backs are in the foreground.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck4glnl2v9p5o) Potty training scheme to roll out to 20 more areas      (Child sitting on a small potty in a bedroom, viewed from behind. The child is wearing an oversized white top and pink shoes, seated on a pastel potty on a colourful rug beside a radiator.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c32l8lel8gy1o) Fake blood and lots of mud: The designer bringing costumes to life      (Two women are smiling as they stand in the Radio Lancashire studio. The woman on the right is holding an off-white aged short sleeved top.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c52e080r72nlo) I only found out I had cancer after my four-year-old kicked me in the testicles      (Ben Lidgey is wearing a grey cycling helmet and glasses. He is sat on a bicycle. Ben is wearing a black T-shirt with the visible text “MOVEMBER AMBASSADOR.” Trees and greenery are in the background with a partly cloudy sky.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/cw80zr55n2d9o) Summerlike warmth to give way to autumn chill this week      (Autumn leaves in the foreground, with two people standing on a path behind)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck5yw5e9pnrzo) The clinic using AI to detect skin cancer earlier      (A man in his seventies who is wearing a black flat cap and glasses is lifting up his shirt to reveal his back.  A healthcare assistant is taking pictures of his back using a device that looks like a mobile phone.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/articles/cqj9kj3wx1dzo) How Elfyn Evans defied history to join rallying greats      (Elfyn Evans)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmz6z2831qgeo) Sorrow of the children shipped to Canada all alone      (An old black and white photo shows a girl and a boy sitting next to each other. The girl is leaning her head on her brother's shoulder. She is wearing a dark coloured hat and a shawl and dress or skirt. Her brother is wearing a dark coloured jacket and trousers and a scarf. He has his arms folded. Both are looking at the camera. Some white writing which is barely legible but whcih ends with the word 'group' can be seen on the bottom of the photo.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsletters/zgmn46f) US Politics Unspun: Cut through the noise with Anthony Zurcher's newsletter      (A cut of of Anthony Zurcher wearing a suit and tie in front of a red, black, grey and blue graphic background featuring the US Capitol Building)             Elsewhere on the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002stm7?at_mid=AGN4uoj05A&at_campaign=The_Reluctant_Vampire&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=m002stm3&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=The_Reluctant_Vampire&at_bbc_team=BBC) Bite into Lenny Rush's much-anticipated supernatural comedy        (The Reluctant Vampire)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0032f30?at_mid=jo8RwUp6NN&at_campaign=Eras_Spice_Girls&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=p0g7xpwt&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Eras_Spice_Girls&at_bbc_team=BBC) Five girls. One era-defining phenomenon. Meet the Spice Girls        (Eras: Spice Girls)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0032cxk?at_mid=kmejv8dHm5&at_campaign=Here_For_The_History_Why_Dont_We_Wear_Hats&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=m002z05r&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Here_For_The_History_Why_Dont_We_Wear_Hats&at_bbc_team=BBC) Why don't we wear hats anymore?        (Here For The History: Why don't we wear hats anymore?)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00332xg?at_mid=7Y3TjE5xKF&at_campaign=Please_Dont_Will_The_Real_Wayne_and_Coleen_Please_Stand_Up&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=p0p9vbyh&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Please_Dont_Will_The_Real_Wayne_and_Coleen_Please_Stand_Up&at_bbc_team=BBC) The new pop culture podcast hosted by two kings of the hot take        (Please Don't)            Most read 1 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjrvl8n82wvo) BBC appoints Rachel Jupp as new director of news       2 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9zrdmxp4vy6o) Teenager's hand blown off during confrontation between France school protesters and police       3 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmy56yvv1kxxo) No 10 insists RAF Fairford is safe after US withdraws bombers       4 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm3691y79xp5o) Flydubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport or building, reports say       5 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8r4yxpry5e9o) Average five-year mortgage rate hits 6% for first time in three years       6 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr20w64ll61lo) Twelve arrests after protest over migrant boat arrival       7 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c689zl5eljdzo) Andrew takes legal action over search warrants before his arrest       8 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c63r5l04nejwo) Man jailed for life over failed knife attack at Israeli embassy in London       9 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cje3r35p0qeno) The job interview question you don't have to answer       10 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm4g1dxe50nyo) Jewish Greens chair says she could leave party over 'Zionism is racism' motion               BBC News Services  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628994)    On your mobile  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/help-50068132)    On smart speakers  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628323)    Get news alerts  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/20039682)    Contact BBC News     (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/terms) Terms of Use  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc) About the BBC  (https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/privacy) Privacy Policy  (https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/cookies) Cookies  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility) Accessibility Help  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/guidance) Parental Guidance  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact) Contact the BBC  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/careers) Careers  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcnewsletter) BBC emails for you  (https://www.bbc.com/advertisingcontact/) Advertise with us    Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/guidance/links-and-feeds) Read about our approach to external linking.         ()