French students clash with police as school protests spread nationwide

High school students in Paris, Toulouse and Lille have staged fresh demonstrations and blockades to demand better resources for schools.

Footage from 1 October 2026 shows pupils gathering outside Henri IV and Lamartine high schools in Paris, burning bins and clashing with police in Toulouse, and smashing bus shelters while facing tear gas in Lille as the protest movement spreads across France.

Across the country, pupils denounce underfunding, unsafe buildings and teacher shortages while facing a heavy police presence.

Students and staff warn that the mobilisation is unlikely to stop until their demands are met.