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More than two-thirds of secondary school children in England are reluctant to tell teachers they are being bullied despite the mandatory introduction of anti-bullying policies in all schools, according to new research from ChildLine.

The research found that many children decided to keep quiet about bullying for fear of reprisals or not being taken seriously by teachers.

Researchers asked almost 1,000 children what schools should do to combat bullying resulting in several recommendations. One suggestion is to allow children to participate in the formation and implementation of anti-bullying strategies and the creation of peer support networks, through befriending and buddying programmes.

Speaking at a conference to launch the research, minister for young people Ivan Lewis made a commitment to ensuring that young people’s voices would be heard. "We plan to issue new guidance to schools and local education authorities on holding consultations with pupils including how bullying should be tackled in schools," he said.

He went on to announce that new measures to be in place by the autumn under the £470m behaviour and attendance programme, including funding and training for all secondary schools in anti-bullying strategies and consultants to help local education authorities tackle bullying.

ChildLine’s chairperson, Esther Rantzen said: "Bullying simply should not exist in the UK’s schools. Since 1998 every school has been legally obliged to have an anti-bullying strategy in place."

The research was conducted by the Thomas Coram Research Unit and funded by the Department for Education and Skills.

- Tackling Bullying: Listening to the Views of Children and Young People from www.childline.org.uk