TEENAGERS are getting a head start in the hunt for jobs thanks to a scheme which places secondary school pupils with local employers or at college during their final year.

In the Work-Related Learning Scheme schools nominate students to spend one or more days a week with a company or on a course at York College, rather than doing the normal number of GCSEs.

Although students come out with fewer or sometimes no GCSEs, they pick up work experience or learn new skills at college, develop more self-confidence. Many are offered jobs afterwards.

The scheme started four years ago with 13 pupils, and now deals with 300 from York schools and 130 from North Yorkshire schools.

Phil Metcalfe, from York Training Centre, which arranges the work placements, said: "The strategy is to widen choice for students, and the Government is looking to put in place a lot of what we've already got in place here, under its new agenda for 14 to 19-year-olds. We're streets ahead in York."

Ross Moynihan, 16, from Clifton, has spent two days a week with the Football in the Community project run by York City Football Club, working with schools and community groups.

His boss, Paul Olsson, said the club now planned to take Ross on as a trainee.

"When I interviewed him I told him he would have to knuckle down and he's been absolutely superb," he said.

"When he first came he was quite abrupt, but his personal skills have got far better. He's holding his own in schools and mixes with children, no problem. He's done really well."

Ross, a student at the Pupil Support Centre in York, said: "It's really good and I get on with the people I work with."

Erika Jones, 16, of Tadcaster, did her placement at Samantha's Hair Salon in Dringhouses, York, and has now been offered a traineeship too.

She worked three days a week and was nominated for the scheme by Tadcaster Grammar School.

"I enjoy it. I don't mind the hours and everyone is friendly. I'm pleased I've done it."

Her boss, Maureen Cox, said: "For me it's worked really well. Being a small firm, it's hard to get good trainees. This has been really useful and I've ended up getting a very good standard.

"I did have my doubts, particularly because I think people should spend their last year in school, but obviously there are people who have to use the scheme and for them it works really well."

A ceremony was held at the Guildhall in York on Monday where Erika and Ross were among nine students of the year. The others were Matthew Banks, Fulford School, James Metcalfe, Joseph Rowntree School (work placements); Ricky Bellhouse, Burnholme Community College, Emma Kersey, Joseph Rowntree School, Stuart Malloy, Pupil Support Centre, Richard Marsden, Canon Lee School, Lindsey Mitchell, Fulford School (college placements).

Updated: 11:10 Wednesday, June 26, 2002