Head teachers in England are more likely to face problems with pupils bullying online and misusing social media than in any other developed country, an international study says.
A report from the OECD think tank reported the experiences of more than 250,000 teachers in 48 industrialised countries and regions. It showed particular problems with cyber-bullying in England's schools.
The OECD's education director called for more regulation of social media, rather than leaving individual heads to try to cope.
The study, from the economics think tank the Teaching and Learning International Survey, looked at the working lives of teachers around the world, with England participating but not Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
The survey, carried out every five years, indicated an increase in bullying in England's schools - driven by online bullying and harassment and problems caused by social media.
Of the heads in England surveyed:
- 14% faced problems each week caused by "hurtful" material posted about pupils, compared with an international average of 2%, with the United States having the next highest proportion - 10%
- 27% faced problems each week caused by pupils receiving "unwanted contact" online - in the form of cyber-bullying, compared with an international average of 3%, with Australia having the next highest proportion - 16%
In France, mobile phones have been banned from school - and the OECD education expert said education systems had to find a way of dealing with the impact of social media and internet use on young people. He warned of a lack of regulation in England, which left schools having to find their own response.
Apart from the emotional harm of bullying, he said, the misuse of social media was "hindering learning" and needed to be addressed at a wider level.
The survey also indicated that England faced a significant problem with a shortage of teachers.
Head teachers in England were much more likely to report their biggest problem was a lack of qualified teachers.
