French pupils resume school blockades after their two-week break as a minister warns lost lessons are putting exams at risk

Student leader Pierre Sourzat, head of the "Lyceens!" group, declared Macron "hasn't heard us" and given pupils "almost nothing," vowing disruption will continue as blockades spread across French high schools. Hundreds of thousands marched on Saturday in a third consecutive weekend of nationwide protests over soaring prices, overcrowded classrooms and crumbling school buildings.

The government's concessions — including scrapping the controversial Parcoursup admissions platform — were dismissed as "smoke and mirrors" by protest leaders.

Workers across public and private sectors are set to strike on Thursday, with university and high school blockades called for both Tuesday and Thursday.

The movement has now spread beyond France, with similar student protests emerging in Germany, Italy, Belgium and Albania.