City schools have been named the best in the country at tackling homophobic bullying.

Gay equality charity Stonewall has named Brighton and Hove City Council as the best in the country at confronting the issues in schools.

Equality campaigners have welcomed the news.

Stonewall is today publishing its 2012 Education Equality Index, which studies council policies, training given for teachers and work carried out with youth groups.

Phélim MacCafferty, the deputy leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “We know that our young LGBT population faces extra challenges, so I am incredibly proud of this award.

“In completing the index we are saying very clearly that we celebrate diversity and want to make a positive difference to our young lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans citizens and indeed to the lives of all young people in the city.

“Our schools and our healthy schools team have fought hard to get here. But there is more to be done and we will continue our work driving homophobia, biphobia and transphobia from our city’s classrooms.”

Much of the work in the city has been spearheaded by the Allsorts LGBT Youth Project, which won Stonewall’s Best Community Project in 2009. Its founder Jess Wood was made an MBE this year.

Marianne Lemond, of Allsorts, said: “We have worked closely with the council for several years now to ensure that local schools are more inclusive and safe spaces for LGBTU young people and we are delighted that this work is getting due recognition.”

Chris Cooke, chairman of the city’s LGBT community safety forum, said: “It is apt that Brighton leads the way in showing how we can tackle homophobia in schools.”