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High-school students: blockades, absences, sanctions

Key points

  • Protesting is a right, but the absence is not excused and blocking the school is forbidden (sanctions, even an obstruction offence).
  • Around school: never alone, and never pick up a grenade.
  • Disciplinary council: summons 8 days ahead, access to the file, right to be assisted, appeal within 8 days.
  • Custody from age 13: a lawyer is mandatory, parents are informed, and stay silent about names (classmates, teachers).

High-school students have the right to protest. But school has its own rules, on top of those of the street.

What is allowed, what is not

  • Protesting: yes, it is a right, as long as it does not harm teaching activities.1
  • Striking: no, students have no right to strike. Missing class to protest is not an excused absence.1
  • Blockading the school: not allowed. Preventing students or staff from entering can be a criminal obstruction offence, on top of disciplinary sanctions.12

Around school: staying safe

In front of the school, on the public road, the rules of any demonstration apply, and the police can step in.

  • Never stay alone: come and leave as a group (never stay alone).
  • Carry the number of a trusted adult and of a legal team, written on paper (pre-protest checklist).
  • If the police step in, move away and never pick up a grenade, even one lying on the ground: demonstrators have lost a hand that way.3 See dispersal, warnings and kettling.
  • If you witness an arrest or violence: film from a distance, without showing students' faces (film the police).

Possible sanctions

The list of sanctions is set by the Education Code: warning, reprimand, accountability measure, temporary exclusion of up to eight days, permanent exclusion.2 The head teacher can impose most of them alone; permanent exclusion goes through a disciplinary council.4

  • You must be told what you are accused of and be able to defend yourself.2
  • Keep the letters you receive and write down what happened; ask an association or a high-school students' union for advice.

The disciplinary council

  • You and your parents must be summoned by registered letter at least 8 days in advance.4
  • You can read your file before the hearing.4
  • You can be assisted by a lawyer, a teacher or a student.4
  • To challenge the decision, appeal to the rector within 8 days of receiving the letter.4
  • Sanctions do not follow you through school: warnings, reprimands and accountability measures are removed from your file at the end of the school year, other sanctions (except permanent exclusion) after one year.4

If you are arrested

From the age of 13, a minor can be held in police custody, with stronger safeguards:5

  • a lawyer is mandatory from the start;
  • your parents (or legal guardians) must be informed, normally within 3 hours;
  • a medical examination is mandatory from the start;
  • every interview is filmed.

You have the right to remain silent. Don't sign anything you don't understand (the police custody guide).

You may be asked for names: who organised the blockade, which teachers encouraged you. Students reported this after being taken into custody in 2020.6 You don't have to answer: stay silent and wait for your lawyer.

Parents: you must be informed. Ask where your child is being held and contact a lawyer or a legal team straight away; otherwise a duty lawyer is appointed.5 On release, keep the documents handed over and write down your child's account while it is fresh.

Resources for minors in the directory · The right to protest

In one of these situations? a high-school student · the parent of a minor

Sources

Each note links to the source of the information. Most sources are in French. Laws change: check the date of the source and, if in doubt, ask a lawyer.

  1. CIDJ — Droit de manifester : ce que peuvent faire les lycéens · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩↩↩

  2. Me Hassan Kohen — Blocus au lycée : droits des lycéens et sanctions possibles (2026) · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩↩↩

  3. Public Sénat — Castaner announces the symbolic withdrawal of a controversial grenade · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩

  4. CIDJ — Sanctions at school and university: procedure and appeals · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩↩↩↩↩↩

  5. Service-Public — Retenue ou garde à vue d'un mineur · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩↩

  6. Sud Radio — High-school students in custody: "they wanted teachers' names" (2020) · AI-sourced on · awaiting human check ↩

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