Bullying among children is more common than ever - statistics released last month reveal half of young people have been bullied in the last year and one in five young people have admitted to physically bullying someone.
The effects can be devastating too – a third of all victims suffer suicidal thoughts.
Tragically last week Polish school girl Dagmara Przybysz, 16, was found dead at her school.
Before she died she'd complained about suffering verbal abuse at school saying she'd suffered racism and 'freinds saying things behind her back'.
One place bullied children can turn to for support is the Red Balloon Centre, a specialist school in Norwich set up to provide sanctuary to children who’ve been severely bullied.
It’s one of four in the UK, the first was set up 20 years ago by a former teacher, and since then they’ve helped hundreds of children regain their self confidence and return to mainstream education.
The school follows the national curriculum, but pupils are also given weekly counseling and life skills lessons.
Pupils stay for as long as they need, though it’s usually less than two years and there’s a zero tolerance approach to bullying - if on the rare occassion there is ever conflict it's dealt with through mediation.
Children can be referred by their local education authority or pay to attend privately.
Closer visited and talked to some of the 14 pupils there – their stories were harrowing, the despair and disillusionment they've experienced painfully apparent.
Head teacher Angela Hewett says: “I can’t emphasise enough how much bullying affects children. When they first come here some of them can't look at you, let alone talk to you.
“Some pupils have turned to self-harm and others have attempted suicide.
“When they first arrive we buddy them up with another child to help them relax. Sixty per cent of the time is spent on academic studies, while 40% is on life skills and counseling with therapists.
“We help children to rebuild their self-esteem and realise the bullying wasn’t their fault.”
Read the rest of this story in Closer mag, out today