Cambridge has been rocked by protest over higher education for the third time in as many weeks, this time culminating with local school students joining the protesters in Senate House.

Students from local sixth form colleges, Cambridge students and staff of the University gathered outside Senate House at noon to demonstrate against cuts to higher education, and the abolition of EMA.

The march ended at Senate House, where members of the march descended upon the lawn and into the occupied SCR. Leaders of the occupation seemed at first to be overwhelmed by the number of people seeking to enter, and an impromtu crowd control system was set up. The leaders insisted, however, that all were welcome.

Around a hundred students gathered, and some started a snowball fight which resulted in the breakage of a window at Senate House.

Cambridge student leaders of the Occupation have been quick to distance themselves from this act, saying that it was the action of a sixth form student who was acting against the demands of the majority of protesters.

After the window was smashed, a chant of “Stop throwing snow” could be heard from the SCR and around the Lawn. The occupation leaders swiftly set up a fund to repair the broken window, asking fellow protesters to donate at the entrance on Senate House passage.

School students were also reprimanded by occupation leaders for smoking inside the SCR premises, who insisted to Varsity that there is a no smoking policy in the occupied area.

The sixth form students were generally warmly received by occupation protesters and CUSU officers, who have been present today, having voted in favour of supporting the occupation last night.

Andy McGowan, CUSU access officer, commented: “Obviously we’ve had a load of sixth formers organise a rally and a demonstration today, which Cambridge students have been getting involved with, and academics as well.

"I think the key thing about it is showing that it’s not just one group of students or one group of education sector who are campaigning against these cuts: We’ve got academics on our side at the moment who are here to show their support, we’ve got sixth form students who are campaigning against the abolition of EMA and we’ve got students.”

James Smith, an upper-sixth student from a local school, highlighted the importance of the proposed hike in fees in determining his choice of university.

He said, “Obviously the proposed hikes in tuition fees are going to be for the most competititve courses, and I don’t come from a very affluent background, so it’s going to impact me quite a lot, but I’ll probably still go.

“If I get in this year I won’t be hit that bad. That’s put a lot of pressure on me in determining what I want to do. If I don’t do good this year I’m pretty fucked basically.”

Other students commented that they would be put off applying to Cambridge if it was more expensive than other institutions.

However, opinion outside of the protest has been increasingly divided, with a Facebook campaign opposed to the occupation amassing 321 supporters. The group was set up by disqualified Union Presidential candidate, Gabe Latner.

One student, who wished to remain anonymous, commented: “I think it’s great that there’s a debate going on, but this seems at times to have been superceded by people sitting in buildings drinking tea, and perhaps spending more time discussing and less time noncing around, we would actually get somewhere.”

Charlie Bell, President of Queens’ College JCR, said: “Personally speaking, I hope that the occupation (and associated problems) doesn't end up stifling debate on this issue. There are serious and genuine concerns, and areas for extensive discussion, but this is best served in an arena of openness, rather than by dogmatically refusing to acknowledge any need for reduction in public spending.

“I also hope that the students who would like to discuss these issues, but don't agree with the occupation or its aims in total, are not alienated and pushed away from engaging with the issues at hand.”

Callum Wood, CUCA chair, told Varsity: “I feel that there is a debate to be had about student funding and fees and cuts, and proposed changes to the provision of education by the state.

“However, I don’t think that going on marches and occupying buildings is contributing to that, I think it’s distracting from it... I don’t think that I would go as far as to occupy a building to make a point. I think it’s putting undue pressure on the University that they’re trying to save.”