The Historic 1972 London School Strike Through the Eyes of Its Young Protesters

In 1972, London saw one of its biggest school strikes. Thousands of students walked out of their classrooms. They were unhappy with the school system and wanted to make their voices heard. This strike was not just about skipping school. It was a serious protest.

The students had several reasons for their strike. They were upset about the overcrowded classrooms. Many schools did not have enough teachers, and the facilities were in poor condition. The students felt that their education was suffering because of these problems.

Another big issue was the lack of student rights. Students felt that they were not being treated fairly. They wanted more say in how their schools were run. They demanded the right to form student councils and have a voice in decisions affecting them.

The strike began with a few schools, but it quickly spread. Soon, students from all over London joined in. They organized marches and rallies. They carried signs and chanted slogans. The media took notice, and the strike made headlines.

Teachers and parents had mixed reactions to the strike. Some supported the students and their demands. They agreed that the school system needed changes. Others were worried about the disruption to education. They felt that students should be in school, not on the streets.

The government had to respond. Officials met with student leaders to discuss their demands. These meetings were tense, but they showed that the students had made an impact. Some changes were promised, like hiring more teachers and improving school facilities.

#1 Pupils from Westminster City School, London help to serve food and drinks to patients at London’s Westminster Hospital, 1972.

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#2 School children march to County Hall as part of a demonstration for the School Action Union against school dinners, caning, and school uniforms, London, 1972.

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#3 School children march to County Hall as part of a demonstration for the School Action Union against school dinners, caning, and school uniforms, London, 1972.

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#4 School children march to County Hall as part of a demonstration for the School Action Union against school dinners, caning, and school uniforms, London, 1972.

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#5 Leader of school strike Steve Finch, aged eighteen, with fellow pupils of Rutherford School, is escorted by a policeman to a meeting in London, 1972.

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#6 Spokesperson Stephen Finch leads pupils of Rutherford Comprehensive School in Marylebone, London, on a strike organized by the Schools Action Union, 1972.

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#7 Pupils of Rutherford Comprehensive School in Marylebone, London, during a strike by schoolchildren organized by the Schools Action Union, 1972.

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#8 Pupils from the Sarah Siddons Comprehensive School in London, protesting in Marylebone during a strike by schoolchildren organized by the Schools Action Union, 1972.

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#9 Male pupils of Rutherford School and female pupils of Sarah Siddons Comprehensive join forces to strike against caning, detention, uniforms and headmaster dictatorships, Marylebone, London, 1972.

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#10 Male pupils of Rutherford School and female pupils of Sarah Siddons Comprehensive join forces to strike against caning, detention, uniforms and headmaster dictatorships, Marylebone, London, 1972.

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#11 Rutherford Comprehensive School pupils wearing their ordinary clothes arrive at the school in Marylebone, London, 1972.

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#12 Rutherford Comprehensive School pupils wearing their ordinary clothes arrive at the school in Marylebone, London, 1972.

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#13 Pupils running across a road during a school strike demonstration, Trafalgar Square, London, 1972.

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#14 Pupils march into Trafalgar Square, London during a school strike, 1972.

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#15 Schoolchildren taking part in a protest march on their way to the South Bank, London, 1972.

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#16 London schoolchildren at Charing Cross support a strike called by the Schools Action Union, 1972.

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#17 London schoolchildren take part in a mass rally at County Hall, organized by the Schools Action Union, 1972.

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#18 London schoolchildren attend a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, 1972.

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#19 A policeman restrains a protestor outside County Hall in Lambeth, where schoolchildren were demonstrating in support of the demands put forward by the Schools Action Union, 1972.

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#20 Police officers restrain an Afghan-coated activist during a one-day strike organized by the Schools Action Union protest outside the Greater London Council headquarters at County Hall, 1972.

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#21 Stephen Finch, 18, leader of the West London schoolchildren’s strike, talks to fellow pupils at Paddington Green, 1972.

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#22 A group of schoolchildren head for shelter after a heavy downpour dampens their ‘pupil power’ demonstration at Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park, 1972.

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#23 A group of schoolchildren hold a ‘pupil power’ demonstration at Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park, 1972.

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#24 Schoolchildren clamber over the verges in Hyde Park, where a ‘pupil power’ demonstration took place at Speakers’ Corner. They then marched to County Hall, 1972.

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#25 A schoolboy smokes as a ‘pupil power’ demonstration breaks up near County Hall following a rally in Hyde Park, 1972.

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#26 Schoolchildren taking part in a ‘pupil power’ demonstration march towards County Hall, 1972.

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#27 Several hundred striking high school students attended a meeting outside the Town Hall, before marching through the city to Parliament House, 1972.

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