The school report. The experiences of gay young people in Britain’s schools in 2012

Case Studies & Research
Stonewall
2012
35 p.
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This report is based on a survey conducted by the Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge with young people who are lesbian, gay or bisexual (or think they might be), concerning their experiences in secondary schools and colleges across Britain. Key findings: - Homophobic bullying continues to be widespread in Britain’s schools. More than half (55 per cent) of lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils have experienced direct bullying; - The use of homophobic language is endemic. Almost all (99 per cent) gay young people hear the phrases ‘that’s so gay’ or ‘you’re so gay’ in school and ninety six per cent of gay pupils hear homophobic language such as ‘poof’ or ‘lezza’; - Three in five gay pupils who experience homophobic bullying say that teachers who witness the bullying never intervene; - Only half of gay pupils report that their schools say homophobic bullying is wrong, even fewer do in faith schools (37 per cent); - Homophobic bullying has a profoundly damaging impact on young people’s school experience. One in three (32 per cent) gay pupils experiencing bullying change their future educational plans because of it and three in five say it impacts directly on their school work; - Gay people who are bullied are at a higher risk of suicide, self-harm and depression. Two in five (41 per cent) have attempted or thought about taking their own life directly because of bullying and the same number say that they deliberately self-harm directly because of bullying.

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