Is Southend High School for Girls England's most gay-friendly school?

Around 45% of pupils in Britain have been bullied for being gay, according to a study commissioned by gay rights charity Stonewall and carried out by the University of Cambridge.

But that's down from 55% in 2012.

And the use of homophobic language has also decreased, with 52% of LGBT people hearing homophobic slurs "frequently" or "often" at school.

That's also down from 68% five years ago.

Gracie is a pupil at the school in Essex

There are pride flags hanging in the common room, gay rights posters on the walls and an LGBT noticeboard.

They've had rainbow themed non-uniform days raising money for gay rights charity Stonewall and last year the students started an LGBT support group.

They hold weekly meetings discussing relevant topics like coming out, gay rights and safe sex and also have a group chat offering extra support.

There's no way to confirm the exact number, but students think 78 people came to the first meeting in a school of 1,200.

Joe and his friend Jordan

Joe Nicolls, 18, was bullied at a different school in Essex and says it wasn't a nice period of time for him.

"There was a lot of walking down corridors and people looking at you, and people I didn't know but still knew me as the one that had come out and you were pushed in corridors or tripped over.

"You'd have names shouted at you. A lot of gay boy and bi-boy and that sort of stuff. Anything that remotely addressed the sexuality, they'd use."

John says homophobic bullying does exist but isn't as widespread as it used to be.

"Coming from a boys' school to a girls' school, I can really see a difference.

Deputy head boy John poses in front of the LGBT noticeboard at the school

"So maybe it's because the school I'm at now is really inclusive and there is a conversation.

"It is getting better and that's what the report shows."

The Stonewall research, based on a sample of 3,700 11- to 19-year-olds, also suggests that schools are much more likely to condemn homophobic bullying than in previous years.

John says in his old school very few kids were out, whereas at Southend High School for Girls he claims there are about 50 gay, bisexual and transgender pupils.

"Definitely at this school, I haven't heard gay as a slur once."

Molly's also a student at the school and helped set up the LGBT meetings.

"We get to share our experiences, build each other up, give each other advice and create a community where we can all get together.

"I think just the presence of the group is reaffirming, like 'You are OK. There are other people like you and that you're not weird.'

"Calling someone gay is no longer insulting because there are so many cool and amazing people who are gay."

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