Courts end student sit-in

University chiefs were claiming victory yesterday after a series of court judgments ended a student sit-in and an attempt to block exams.

The High Court and Court of Appeal ruled on Monday in favour of the University of North London to end a two-week occupation by up to 500 students.

The protest, at the humanities department in Kentish Town, threatened to prevent undergraduates sitting examinations.

Cliff Wragg, the university spokesman, said: 'The actions of a politically motivated group would have had a negative effect on the majority of hard-working students and their efforts to sit their final exams.'

The students were protesting against plans to close some courses, cut teaching time by 20 per cent and to axe staff.

Lesley Gerard meets university staff tired and demoralised by the expansion of higher education