A school for students rejected by mainstream schools is being hailed as a success story.

Te Ama Alternative Education Programme in Whakatane takes on teenagers with behavioural problems who are not wanted by mainstream secondary schools in eastern Bay of Plenty.

After a year, its roll is already falling as reformed children return to regular schools.

"The young people we're working with do have a social impact and if we can actually start changing attitudes and behaviours then everybody benefits," says principal Tony Jones.

"These young people are committing the sort of offences that would warrant them going to prison if we didn't intervene, so it's a really expensive option to ignore it," he says.

There are no books or curriculum at the school. Te Ama is about building personal responsibility and creating a sense of identity.

There are over 2,500 students in similar programmes around the country.

The second chance school has been operating for a year, and already 22 students have left it and returned to a regular college.

Te Ama is hoping its roll drops even further.