Some pupils are missing big chunks of schooling and jeopardising their future prospects, because of lack of knowledge about the Southern Regional Health School among doctors and the general public, the school's liaison manager Angela Botherway says.
One pupil, an 18-year-old who did not want to be named, has attended the school for the past few months. She missed three terms at her former school before she found out about the health school.
''I'd lost all hope really,'' she said.
The pupil, who has chronic fatigue syndrome and was bullied at mainstream school, said she was working towards enrolling at Otago Polytechnic later this year to train as an early childhood teacher.
The health school understood her issues, and helped her earn academic credits at her own pace. At her old school, some teachers placed a negative focus on what she was missing out on, she said.
School bullies often targeted the weak and vulnerable, and she did not think enough was done about the problem in mainstream schooling.
The Southern Regional Health School, which covers the whole South Island, has 30 pupils in Otago, 22 of whom are in Dunedin.
Mrs Botherway said despite its low profile, the school had seen a 60% increase in mental health referrals in the past 18 months, which was thought to be due partly to the Christchurch earthquakes and partly to increased pressures on young people. Mrs Botherway said the school worked to get pupils back into mainstream education: the average length of time at the school was just over 13 weeks.
Teacher Kate Atchison said health school pupils found it a relief not to be continually asked about their absences. The school tried to keep pupils in touch with their old school, which could entail using Internet phone service Skype, or leaving comments on the school blog.
Mrs Botherway said her role was created last year partly to increase the school's profile with health professionals and the community sector.
The school had a good relationship with Dunedin schools, she said.
To be eligible for the school, which caters for years 1 to 13, pupils must have been in hospital and/or recuperating or rehabilitating for more than 10 school days, or likely to have six hospital admissions in a 12-month period, or be absent from school for more than 40 school days in any one school year.
