Dr David Regis praised efforts to highlight the problem

A quarter of 10 and 11 year olds experience some form of bullying at school, a survey suggests.

But the overall level of the problem has declined steadily over five years, according to the Schools Health Education Unit, an independent statistics group.

Its survey found 30% of 10 and 11 year olds had reported being bullied often or every day in 1997, and 29% in 2000. The most recent figures were collected last year.

SHEU's research manager Dr David Regis said: "It is encouraging that the problem seems to be getting less widespread.

'More subtle'

"But it is unacceptable that so many youngsters still face it at school.

"I think we have become better at letting children know what constitutes bullying. It's not just about shoving or name-calling. It's often more subtle."

The SHEU study, carried out last year, found 16% of the 10 to 11 age group felt anxiety at playtime and lunchtime because of bullying.

Meanwhile, 16% of girls thought they had been picked on because the way they looked.

The proportion of boys reading during dinnertime, playtime or the evening declined from 29% to 17% from 1997 to last year.

This comes despite government figures showing that literacy levels have improved because of its classroom programmes.

Dr Regis said: "If you listen to people like the children's author Philip Pullman, he would say that the national literacy strategy is making people more competent but destroying their enjoyment of it.

"I couldn't say the reason based on these statistics, but they are consistent with the idea.

"Maybe the children are finding things to do other than reading, such as text-messaging or computing.

"The level of activity organisation at break times is now much better, so maybe that's another cause."

The survey also found more children getting proper exercise and a higher level of contentment with family life.

Dr Regis said: "It's not all doom and gloom. Most youngsters seem well-balanced and happy."