A fifth of UK children say they can't be their 'true selves' at school

A survey of 1,000 children aged six to 11 revealed that 47% have found themselves in situations where they were unsure if friends were joking or actually being cruel.

As a third confessed that they have felt out of place at times, leading to feelings of sadness, discomfort, and awkwardness.

The study found 29% worry about being teased for their clothing choices at school, while a distressing 38% have become self-conscious about their looks after hearing a mean comment, leaving 22% concerned about their appearance.

As many as 37% have experienced bullying from their peers, and six in 10 have seen it happen to their classmates.

The survey was commissioned by Monster High in collaboration with the Anti-Bullying Alliance to support its 'Project Belonging' mission and assist children and parents in efforts to reduce bullying.

The study, conducted via OnePoll, discovered that 22% feel they can't truly be themselves due to fear of others' opinions.

Kelly Philp, a spokesperson for Mattel UK, stated: "We want to contribute to a world where every child feels proud to be their authentic self and embrace their uniqueness. We have partnered with Anti-Bullying Alliance to support their mission to stop bullying and foster children's sense of belonging."

"Findings indicate that a third of children in the UK are worried they don't fit in, and this is causing children to avoid school, change their journeys, and worry about how they look."

"As part of this partnership, we have created resources for both children and parents to give them the support to tackle these issues and feel like they can belong."

The survey revealed that due to bullying, 39% of children have felt anxious about attending school for fear of being teased. Shockingly, 14% have even refused to attend their educational institution because of bullying.

Despite this, an overwhelming 95% believe it is crucial to respect others, and 80% have been advised by their parents to treat their peers with respect at school.

It was found that children are most likely to confide in their mother (73%) before their father (49%) or teacher (41%) if they are being teased. Yet, worryingly, 75% don't believe their parents are fully aware of the extent of bullying occurring at their school, and 59% say the same about their teachers.

As schools gear up to 'Choose Respect' during Anti-Bullying Week (11th to 15th Nov), Martha Evans, director of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, expressed: "These findings are concerning, showing many children face fears of exclusion and bullying, which can have lasting impacts."

"This Anti-Bullying Week, we can change the narrative by choosing respect to create safer, inclusive spaces where all children belong. Adults must lead by example, showing respect in action."