Homophobic bullying has fallen dramatically in British secondary schools, latest figures have revealed, with LGBT young people now a third less likely to be bullied because of their sexual orientation than they were 10 years ago.
Research commissioned by LGBT equality charity Stonewall found overall, schools were becoming more proactive in preventing harassment and mistreatment of gay pupils.
LGBT children are still at a greater risk of being bullied than their heterosexual peers, however, with around 45 per cent of gay, lesbian bisexual and transgender pupils reporting harassment in school.
The study, carried out by Cambridge University researchers, suggests the school culture is changing, with teachers becoming more likely to address homophobic bullying and teach pupils it is wrong.
Generally, children are more likely to be taught about LGBT issues in the classroom than they were a decade ago.
The Stonewall School Report still raises concerns about the proportion of young people who do find themselves the victim of bullying, however, and the impact this has on them, with many LGBT pupils admitting to self-harm.