HUNDREDS of sixth form students are set to march on Tory offices in Finchley next week in protest at the Government's increase in tuition fees.

Around 300 sixth form pupils are expected to show their opposition to the increases as well as the scrapping of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

They will march from outside artsDepot in North Finchley to Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer's office in Ballards Lane to hand in a petition against the changes.

Organiser Alex Clayman, 16, said the strength of support shows the increasing anger amongst youngsters hoping to go to university or further education.

The Finchley Catholic High School pupil said: “This government is not thinking about us in any way. We don't vote so they think they can bring these changes in and get away with it.

“But we're the ones who are going to be saddled with huge debts and able to vote at the next election and we won't be forgetting this.”

Mr Clayman, who is studying geography, classics, history and English at school and an extra A-level at Woodhouse College, said he is confident of avoiding the violent scenes of student protests on Wednesday.

He told the Times Series: “It's taken a lot of organising, but I know about 80 per cent of the people who said they will come and they would not cause trouble like that.

“We've been in touch with police and have 25 safety marshalls arranged so that should cut out trouble. I don't agree with the way those protests were conducted.

“The thing is we need to make our voice heard. It's no good starting working life with huge debts and no prospect of paying them off.”

He said many people his age had been made to think twice about whether to go to university because of the increases, which could see fees rising to more than £9,000-per-year.

He added: “I want to be a teacher so I have to go to university, but it's not a high-paid job so how will I afford to pay the fees back?

“The loss of the EMA will also have a big affect on people as from 2014 people will have to stay in education until they are 18, so it will affect how they afford to get to college and that sort of thing.”

The march is due to start at 4pm from the artsDepot, Tally Ho next Thursday, November 18.