Cambridgeshire has one of the best records on tackling homophobia in the country, a report has revealed.

Cambridgeshire County Council ranked third among local authorities on the Stonewall Education Equality Index 2015, which rates the way homophobic and biphobic bullying is tackled in schools.

The council offers guidance for staff on supporting difference in Sex and Relationship Education (SRE), Early Years Services and Religious Education. Cambridgeshire Race Equality and Diversity Service (CREDS) provides guidance on prejudice-related incidents and an online reporting system.

Charity SexYOUality delivers training and workshops to school staff, nurses, and students as well as awareness training to local authority staff. It has created a intergenerational project, LGBT 20 20 Vision, which it has promoted in schools and youth clubs.

During LGBT History Month the council flew the rainbow flag over Shire Hall for the first time.

Rose Elgar, of Cambridgeshire County Council, said: ‘Cambridgeshire takes part in the Stonewall Education Equality Index because it is an excellent tool for reviewing and developing our practice.

“Stonewall’s positive judgement of our submission provides external validation of our work and sends a strong message of support which helps us when developing new partnerships and projects.

“We are extremely proud of the collaborations that have underpinned this year’s submission and can see that these combined approaches create a strong and coherent message.

“Significant achievements this year include SexYOUality’s increased one-to-one support for LGBT young people in schools and the screenings of free organised by Cambridgeshire Race Equality and Diversity Service which were attended by 404 primary school children.”