More than 20% of P7 children in Northern Ireland have been physically bullied at school, according to the results of a new survey.

This shocking figure is just one of the findings from research |carried out by academics at Queen's University and the University of Ulster.

Over 3,400 children across Northern Ireland in their final year at primary school took part in the Kids' Life and Times Survey — the first time all P7 children have been given the chance to express their opinions on the issues affecting them, such as happiness in school, bullying, health and wellbeing and the Transfer Test.

Twenty-two percent of the children said they have been physically bullied at school, 39% have been bullied in other ways, 10% have experienced bullying by text message or on the internet and 51% think that children in their school get bullied.

More children said they had been bullied at school in the last two months by getting called names, getting left out of games, or having nasty stories spread about them on purpose than said they had been physically bullied at school — for example getting pushed around or threatened or having their belongings stolen.

The vast majority of children said their school had a set of rules on bullying (87%) and that they had talked about bullying in their class (88%).

Professor Ed Cairns, from the School of Psychology at the University of Ulster, said: “Bullying can have both a physical and psychological impact on children.

“In some extreme cases, there is evidence of long term consequences including mental health problems.

“We need to be worried about all children caught up in bullying incidents but the group we possibly should be most concerned about in terms of their mental health in later life is the bullies.

“Bullying is an important issue and one that most schools in Northern Ireland have a policy to deal with.”

Other findings include that over a quarter (26%) of P7 boys are happy coming to school, compared with 44% of girls.

The survey found that boys were less happy than girls with writing, reading, spelling, working by themselves and coming to school. Kids’ Life and Times was carried out by ARK, a joint research initiative by the two universities and the findings were officially launched today.

Dr Katrina Lloyd, from Queen's University, said: “The public and the media often debate topical and controversial issues like bullying in our schools and the future of the Transfer Test but we rarely ask the children themselves what they think about these things.

“The Kids' Life and Times Survey gives children the opportunity to express their views on the issues that affect them.

“Professor Gillian Robinson, from the University of Ulster, said: “The years spent at primary school are crucial to a child's development — not only in terms of what they learn but also their general wellbeing.

“It is important that those involved in educating our children understand the extent to which they do or do not enjoy being at school and the pressures they are under.

“I am sure this survey will help inform education policy makers in making decisions that affect thousands of school children across Northern Ireland.

“As with all ARK surveys, the results of the Kids' Life and Times Survey will be made widely available, and a copy will be sent to every primary school in Northern Ireland.”

The Kids' Life and Times Survey was funded by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. The survey findings will be available at www.ark.ac.uk/klt