St John have now confirmed a child reportedly impaled at a rural Southland School was a girl.

Emergency Services were called to Thornbury School just after 3pm - and St John spokesman Gerard Campbell says the girl was taken to Kew Hospital with moderate injuries.

Ministry of Education support secretary Katrina Casey says they're always concerned to hear of students being injured.

She says they've contacted the school and are providing support.

It was earlier reported that the child was a boy.