A LEADING Merseyside school has seen incidents of cyberbullying plummet since discussing paedophiles and suicide in class.

The no-nonsense lessons have been delivered to girl pupils by specially-trained staff at Merchant Taylors’ school, in Crosby.

The sessions, which include showing an image and telling the story of a girl driven to kill herself after she suffered online bullying, have won the backing of Merseyside anti-bullying charity Bullybusters.

And last night teaching officials said the powerful lessons were already paying dividends.

Recorded incidents of cyberbullying among pupils have tumbled by 75% when comparing recorded figures this month, as compared with December last year.

The school’s ICT director, Nigel Price, and head of the lower school, Barbara Jones, have run the classes after being trained by The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.

The lessons look at the impact cyberbullying – the use of technology to bully – can have on others.

It includes showing pupils a picture of American teenager Megan Meier, 13, who committed suicide after allegations she was subjected to cyberbullying.

A stark image of a hand reaching out of a computer screen is also shown to pupils who also take part in question and answer sessions.

However, a major component of the lessons surround internet safety.