Homophobic and sexist bullying is widespread across UK schools and colleges, according to the latest survey of teachers and lecturers.
The survey by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) found that 70 per cent of respondents had heard pupils use sexist and homophobic insults.
Of the insults heard, the most commonly used was "gay", used as a pejorative term and overheard by 83.2 per cent of respondents. "Bitch" was highlighted by 59 per cent, "slag" by 45 per cent and other terms heard included "poof", "lezzie" and "batty-boy".
The majority of cases involved pupils insulting their peers, with male pupils and students the biggest culprits. However, 10 per cent of teachers and lecturers said they had also heard their male colleagues use such insulting language and six per cent said they had heard female colleagues use the terms.
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