University Academy Keighley students staged a mass sit-in to pressure governments to provide education for all children across the globe.

The students from year seven wanted to showcase the worldwide “Send my friend to school” campaign, which they support each year.

And they aimed to highlight research that estimates 67 million children around the world are still denied free education.

Year seven foundation teacher Miss Kirsty Matthews, who organised the event, said: “This year the students wanted to draw wider attention to the campaign by making a video of their message as well as writing to celebrities and MPs urging them to push for action in the third world.”

She said the sit-in symbolised things that were lacking in education for many, such as figures of teachers made from paper, books, dictionaries, pencils and pens.

Each figure also wore an Olympic medal created by the students to inspire action. Other medals and more than 100 letters have been sent to the students’ favourite celebrities, local and national MPs and the Prime Minister.

More information about the campaign can be found at send myfriend.org.