Newman faced other degrading incidents after she won a scholarship to study at Charterhouse, a private boys’ school in Surrey.

The school had only just begun admitting girls to their sixth form in the 1970s, and Newman was one of only a few female pupils at the time.

She says was hosed down with water by her fellow Sixth Formers so that they could see her bra, and was rated on her looks when she walked into the school’s chapel in the morning.

Newman, who describes herself as a “girly swot”, did not report the bullying or the assault at the time but says it knocked her confidence.

The presenter and mum of two daughters says she is speaking out at the start of the school term to encourage girls to report incidents of harassment.

Charterhouse school says it was not previously aware of Newman’s “serious allegations” and has now reported them to the police.

If you’ve been the victim of sexual violence, get free and confidential support with Rape Crisis.

Images: Getty

Channel 4 newsreader Cathy Newman: I was sexually assaulted as a teenager by a boy in my school canteen