“Based on other research on the calming effects of certain types of music, we expected to create a more relaxed atmosphere during recess, but we did not imagine it would be so significant.”

The small scale pilot study, which is published in the journal Children and Schools, was conducted with 56 sixth grade students at a school in Israel.

Dr Ziv said larger studies needed to be carried out to confirm the results while further research would be needed to see if classical music could also have the same calming influence.

But she warned that popular chart music may not be so successful.

Lauren Seager-Smith, national coordinator of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, welcomed the findings.

She said that a similar project offering massage in schools had helped to reduce bullying too.

She said: “Perhaps we’d all be more relaxed and kinder to one another if we had regular massage and a relaxing soundtrack to our day.”

Central photo: Children also reported feeling calmer and happier when they returned to their classrooms,   Alamy

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