A SCHOOL'S confidential system for addressing the health concerns of its students has won a national award.

Earlier this year, Ferryhill Comprehensive School became the first in the county to provide a permanent, drop-in centre on the campus.

Students can access expert advice, support and information about physical, mental or sexual health issue.

This week it was announced that the initiative had won the inaugural Sheena Amos Youth Trust Award for excellence in sexual health services for young people.

The Ferry-Health Drop-in Centre is staffed daily by health care professionals ranging from the school nurse and GPs to sexual health outreach workers, counsellors, family planning nurse and a mental health worker.

It is designed to enable students to discreetly access information in the form of leaflets and websites.

The drop-in centre, which is in a mobile classroom, offers confidential consultations at lunchtime and two nights after school.

Ferry-Health co-ordinator Karen Cromarty said the concept of an on-site health centre developed after it became clear that students felt their needs were not being met by existing provision in the community.

She said: "Consultation with our students through focus groups and questionnaires showed there was significant demand for advice and support on all health issues within the school site itself."

A Student Health Partnership involving interested Year 11 students took the idea forward, with the help of funding from the Sedgefield Tackling Teenage Pregnancy Group and Awards for All.

The facility does not prescribe drugs or medicines or distribute condoms, but it is a place where students can access approachable professionals in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.

Headteacher Steve Gater said the school, which is also the region's first designated business and enterprise college, was delighted to win the award.

The school is now developing a text messaging advice service which students will be able to use to text-in health queries via mobile telephones and have them answered promptly by the team of professionals.