Study into the experiences of over 3,700 lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) pupils aged 11-19 in Britain’s schools.

Key findings:

• 45% of LGBT pupils – including 64% of trans pupils – are bullied for being LGBT in Britain’s schools.This is down from 55% of lesbian, gay and bi pupils who experienced bullying because of their sexual orientation in 2012 and 65% in 2007.
• 50% of LGBT pupils hear homophobic slurs ‘frequently’ or ‘often’ at school, down from 70% in 2012.
• 70% of LGBT pupils report that their school says that homophobic and biphobic bullying is wrong, up from 50% in 2012 and 25% in 2007. However, just 40% of LGBT pupils report that their schools say that transphobic bullying is wrong.
• 20% of LGBT pupils have been taught about safe sex in relation to same-sex relationships.
• 80% of trans young people have self-harmed, as have 60% of lesbian, gay and bi young people who aren’t trans.
• 40% of trans young people have attempted to take their own life, and 20% of lesbian, gay and bi students who aren’t trans have done the same.

Key findings by area of research:

Bullying and language

• 45% of lesbian, gay, bi and trans pupils – including 64% of trans pupils – are bullied for being LGBT at school.
• 52% of LGBT pupils hear homophobic language ‘frequently’ or ‘often’ at school, 36% hear biphobic language ‘frequently’ or ‘often’, and 46% hear transphobic language ‘frequently’ or ‘often’.
• The majority of LGBT pupils (86%) regularly hear phrases such as ‘that’s so gay’ or ‘you’re so gay’ in school.
• 9% of trans pupils are subjected to death threats at school.
• 45% of LGBT pupils who are bullied for being LGBT never tell anyone about the bullying.

How schools respond

• 29% of bullied LGBT pupils say that teachers intervened when they were present during the bullying.
• 68% of LGBT pupils report that teachers or school staff only ‘sometimes’ or ‘never’ challenge homophobic, biphobic and transphobic language when they hear it.
• 68% of LGBT pupils report that their schools say homophobic and biphobic bullying is wrong, but just 41% four in ten report that their schools say transphobic bullying is wrong.

Teaching

• 40% of LGBT pupils are never taught anything about LGBT issues at school.
• 20% of LGBT pupils have learnt about safe sex in relation to same-sex relationships.
• 76% of LGBT pupils have never learnt about bisexuality at school.
• 77% of LGBT pupils have never learnt about gender identity and what ‘trans’ means at school.

Support

• 53% of LGBT pupils say that there isn’t an adult at school they can talk to about being LGBT.
• Just 4% of LGBT pupils know of an openly bi member of staff, and 3% know of one who is openly trans. 27% LGBT pupils know of an openly gay member of staff, and 22% know of an openly lesbian member of staff.
• 44% of trans pupils say that staff at their school are not familiar with the term ‘trans’ and what it means.
• 33 % of trans pupils are not able to be known by their preferred name at school, while 58% are not allowed to use the toilets they feel comfortable in.

Well-being and mental health

• 40% of pupils who have been bullied for being LGBT have skipped school because of this bullying.
• 52% of bullied LGBT pupils feel that homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying has had a negative effect on their plans for future education.
• 84% of five trans young people have self-harmed. For lesbian, gay and bi young people who aren’t trans, 61% have self-harmed
• 45% of trans young people have attempted to take their own life. For lesbian, gay and bi young people who aren’t trans, 22% have attempted to take their own life.

At home and online

• Just 40% of LGBT young people have an adult at home they can talk to about being LGBT.
• Nearly all LGBT young people (96%) say the Internet has helped them understand more about their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
• 40% of young LGBT people have been the target of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic abuse online.
• 97% of LGBT young people see homophobic, biphobic and transphobic content online.
• 65% of LGBT young people think that online platforms are unlikely to do anything about tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic content or incidents when it is reported to them.

School Report: over the past ten years

(Compared to the findings of the 2007 and 2012 School Reports, in 2017)

• Lesbian, gay and bi pupils are less likely to experience homophobic and biphobic bullying at school. In 2017 45% of LGBT pupils were bullied for being lesbian, gay, bi or trans in Britain’s secondary schools and colleges, down from 55% of lesbian, gay and bi pupils who experienced homophobic bullying in 2012 and 65% in 2007.
• Homophobic language at school is still prevalent but decreasing. This report found that 52% of LGBT pupils hear homophobic remarks such as ‘faggot’ or ‘lezza’ ‘frequently’ or ‘often’ in school, down from 68% in 2012 and 71% in 2007.
• Schools are much more likely to say that homophobic bullying is wrong. In 2017, 68% of LGBT pupils report that their school says that homophobic and biphobic bullying is wrong, up from 50% in 2012 and 25% in 2007.
• Pupils are more likely to be taught about LGBT issues at school. In 2017, 40% of LGBT pupils have never been taught about LGBT issues in school, down from 53% in 2012 and 70% in 2007.
• Experiences of poor mental health remain alarmingly high.
• This report found that 61% of lesbian, gay and bi pupils (who aren’t trans) have deliberately harmed themselves at some point, compared to 56% in 2012. It found that 22% had attempted to take their own lives, compared to 23% in 2012.