Education & Family
19 November 2014
Last updated at 12:50 ET
The Free Education march was called in protest at tuition fees of up to £9,000 a year at universities in England.
It was backed by groups including the National Campaign Against Fees And Cuts who want free higher education.
The demonstration was scheduled to finish earlier but some
protesters remain in central London where there have been clashes with
police.
A small breakaway group pushed a wheelie bin at police guarding the entrance to the Tory offices earlier.
Officers forced them back and arrested two people for affray, while two others were arrested for assaults on police officers.
Police said there had been a number of arrests as the protesters moved through central London
Elsewhere the Metropolitan Police said three officers had suffered minor injuries.
"Various missiles were thrown at the officers and protesters pulled down protective fencing around the grass area in Parliament Square," the force said in a statement.
BBC News's Richard Lister said although the main demonstration was over, there was "a rump" of protesters moving around the streets of Westminster being closely followed by police.
The protesters are calling for free higher education and want tuition fees scrapped
There were brief clashes as protesters moved on to Parliament Square in central London
The policing was described as low-key, despite scuffles and arrests
Once protesters had moved on to the square police did not try to remove them
Demonstrators made their way through central London to Westminster
BBC education correspondent Sean Coughlan said those gathered
in Parliament Square earlier were listening to speeches and policing was
low-key.
But a breakaway group made their way to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills - responsible for universities in England and Wales - where they were faced by riot police.
At least one person was arrested near Victoria Street.
'Turn up the heat' Demonstration organiser Aaron Kiely said the protest was the beginning of a "major wave of action" running up to next year's general election.
It has not been endorsed by the National Union of Students (NUS).
Student groups from universities across the country have joined the march against tuition fees, student debt and spending cuts.
"A modern economy capable of competing in a globalised world can only function with a highly educated workforce," said Mr Kiely.
"Wednesday's national demonstration marks the start of a major wave of action between now and the general election which seeks to turn up the heat on politicians and political parties to listen to the demands of the student movement."
There were predictions some pupils would miss school to attend the rally
Protesters chanted "books not bombs" among other slogans
The march has been supported by groups including the Student Assembly Against Austerity and the Young Greens.
But the NUS warned that the event had "an unacceptable level of risk" to members.
A spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said that university admission figures showed that the current fees system had not deterred disadvantaged students from applying - and that, in fact, numbers of applicants had risen.
"We recognise the right of all students to free speech. However, the world-renowned calibre of the UK's higher education system would not be sustainable if tuition fees were removed," the spokesman said.
"Our reforms were necessary to further strengthen the quality of our system and this summer the OECD described the UK as one of the few countries that has developed a sustainable funding system for its universities."
by Emily Straton and Biodun Iginla, BBC News Website
Police said there had been a number of arrests as the protesters moved through central London
Four
people have been arrested as thousands of students marched through
London protesting against education cuts, tuition fees and student debt.
One man and a woman were detained after charging the Conservative Party headquarters in central London.The Free Education march was called in protest at tuition fees of up to £9,000 a year at universities in England.
It was backed by groups including the National Campaign Against Fees And Cuts who want free higher education.
A small breakaway group pushed a wheelie bin at police guarding the entrance to the Tory offices earlier.
Officers forced them back and arrested two people for affray, while two others were arrested for assaults on police officers.
Police said there had been a number of arrests as the protesters moved through central London
"Various missiles were thrown at the officers and protesters pulled down protective fencing around the grass area in Parliament Square," the force said in a statement.
BBC News's Richard Lister said although the main demonstration was over, there was "a rump" of protesters moving around the streets of Westminster being closely followed by police.
The protesters are calling for free higher education and want tuition fees scrapped
There were brief clashes as protesters moved on to Parliament Square in central London
The policing was described as low-key, despite scuffles and arrests
Once protesters had moved on to the square police did not try to remove them
Demonstrators made their way through central London to Westminster
But a breakaway group made their way to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills - responsible for universities in England and Wales - where they were faced by riot police.
At least one person was arrested near Victoria Street.
'Turn up the heat' Demonstration organiser Aaron Kiely said the protest was the beginning of a "major wave of action" running up to next year's general election.
It has not been endorsed by the National Union of Students (NUS).
Student groups from universities across the country have joined the march against tuition fees, student debt and spending cuts.
"A modern economy capable of competing in a globalised world can only function with a highly educated workforce," said Mr Kiely.
"Wednesday's national demonstration marks the start of a major wave of action between now and the general election which seeks to turn up the heat on politicians and political parties to listen to the demands of the student movement."
There were predictions some pupils would miss school to attend the rally
Protesters chanted "books not bombs" among other slogans
But the NUS warned that the event had "an unacceptable level of risk" to members.
A spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said that university admission figures showed that the current fees system had not deterred disadvantaged students from applying - and that, in fact, numbers of applicants had risen.
"We recognise the right of all students to free speech. However, the world-renowned calibre of the UK's higher education system would not be sustainable if tuition fees were removed," the spokesman said.
"Our reforms were necessary to further strengthen the quality of our system and this summer the OECD described the UK as one of the few countries that has developed a sustainable funding system for its universities."
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