There will also be a multi-million pound pilot project, involving about 60, 000 pupils, aimed at helping schools with a high proportion of children who get free school meals to offer a much wider range of extra-curricular activities.

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Ross Hendry, chair of the Anti-Bullying Alliance - a coalition of organisations tackling bullying, said it could lead to children missing school, failing exams, dropping out of sport, avoiding extra-curricular activities and limiting their life choices.

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