The principal of a Streatham school has backed his students who formed a protective ring around a police van to try and stop vandals at the students’ protests.

Year 11 pupil Rimba Temple-Smith, from Dunraven School formed a chain with friends Victoria Kuziora 16, and Samantha Hawkes, 15, as vandals smashed the windscreen with sticks and metal poles, before climbing on top.

David Boyle, principal of Dunraven School, told the Streatham Guardian his pupils who took part in the protests did not have permission to leave the school grounds on the day they attended the protests.

But he said he knew the cause was dear to their hearts and understood why they did it.

Mr Boyle said: “They did this for very good reasons. I believe that they believe in the cause and it’s a shame that organisers did not think of the possibility schoolchildren would want to join the protest and did not schedule it for the weekend.

“I would support any student who believes in something and wants to make a stand through sensible and intelligent behaviour. Too often adults would criticise young people for not being interested, so I’d say, in the future, give them a chance to take part in protests like this in a responsible manner.”

Despite receiving his support, Mr Boyle’s pupils will still have to endure detention, for breaching school rules.

They will have after school sessions where they will be instructed to write letters to their local councillors and MPs outlining their concerns over the rising tuition fees and how it will affect their access to university education.

Young activists

Rimba, 16, one of the students at the protests, told the Evening Standard: “I was there with my friends telling people not to smash it. There was a few other people doing the same. It is about cuts, not violence. The people smashing the van are just thugs.”

Police said they did not try and retake the vehicle while it was being vandalised because of fears it could aggravate the situation.

Thousands of students were penned in by officers after the incident to try and prevent further trouble.

A police spokesman said: "It is regrettable that students decided to damage the police van. In order to prevent this happening it would have been necessary to deploy a large number of officers and use substantial force.

"Any action we take must be proportionate and in the best interests of all involved. The criminal damage to the van is disappointing, but the safety of the public must be paramount.

"The van was following the crowd to determine which direction they might take. In a very short space of time, protesters surrounded the van. The officers felt vulnerable and decided the best course of action was to leave the van."

He said equipment had been stiolen from the van. It is understood personals items belonging to officers were also in side the van.

He said they had made a number of arrests relating to the incident, and their enquiries were continuing.