Denny High School is one of four which will be rebuilt

Falkirk Council and contractors Gateway Consortium have hired 17 youngsters straight from the classroom to work as apprentices on each of the sites.

The scheme will see the school leavers given training in joinery, plumbing and bricklaying for up to four years.

The local authority expects the new schools, costing up to �100m, to be completed by next year.

The replacements for Denny, Falkirk, Grangemouth and St Mungo's High Schools are being funded using a non profit distributing organisation (NPDO) which will reinvest any surpluses in the wider community.

Council project

During negotiations with contractors Ogilvie, Stewart Milne Group and FES, bosses at the consortium agreed to hire the school leavers from the local community.

Councillor Craig Martin said that if successful the council could roll the scheme out to take in other council projects.

He said: "This is a pilot scheme designed to provide young people with real employment and training opportunities.

"We are also looking to expand our community benefits programme by incorporating apprenticeships into other major projects that we have under way such as the town centre regeneration in Bo'ness and Stenhousemuir as well as internally."