Children with disabilities, with special educational needs, those looking after someone or having to spend some time in care, were the most likely to be bullied.
The study for the Government also showed that teenagers who had been bullied did much worse in their GCSEs – up to two grades lower. But the research showed that when parents reported bullying, their children were less likely to face it in the future. Young people who told their parents that they were being bullied at 14 were twice as likely not to remain being bullied at 16 than those who did not.

Another study this week showed that cyberbullying is a growing problem in primary schools, too.

In a smaller study for the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), one in five primary school children said they had been bullied online or by phone. And many of the ten and 11-year-olds questioned said they used social networking sites such as Facebook, even though users are supposed to be over 13.

Campaigners say your parents should be doing more to help you to protect yourselves.

One child told campaigners: “I felt that no-one understood what I was going through. I didn’t know who was sending me these messages. I felt powerless and didn’t know what to do.”

Christopher Cloke, from the ABA, said: “Parents and schools need to be aware that cyberbullying is affecting younger groups as more children get mobile phones and have computer access.”

He added that cyberbullying can be very harmful, leaving children feeling that they cannot escape.

TIPS TO AVOID CYBERBULLYING

• Don’t give out personal details such as your mobile number, address or email online
• Check and clean your list of friends on social networking sites
• Keep evidence so that callers and mailers can be traced
• Use the “report abuse” or “block sender” options on websites
• Remember that sites you create and emails you send can be traced back to you
• Protect your password to keep your information safe
• Finally, if you ARE being bullied, tell someone who can help like a teacher, parent or another adult you trust