Children leaving education due to homophobic bullying

Many gay children are leaving school after taking their GCSEs
due to homophobic bullying, it emerged this week,
writes Amy Taylor.

Gay equality organisation Stonewall estimates that up to 60,000
gay children are being bullied at school and has launched
‘Education for All’, an initiative asking head-teachers
to introduce policies to tackle the problem.

According to the organisation, only six per cent of schools have
such measures in place.

Research carried out at the University of York found that gay
pupils with six GCSEs are more likely to leave school at 16 than
their peers.

“Many of those who leave cite experiences of bullying and
violence and have had a history of absenteeism as a consequence.
That compromises children’s life chances forever,” said
Ben Summerskill, Stonewall chief executive.