Pupils from Prittlewell School in Southend got a lesson in construction work as part of an initiative linked with a local skills college.
The 15 and 16-year-olds got a taste of life on a real building site at a Crowstone Properties development in Hockley.
They are all taking part in a joint scheme called the Bridging Project, aimed at giving youngsters a head start in the construction industry.
All trades within the construction industry are covered, including bricklaying, carpentry and plumbing. Bob Sheridan organises the course from the Prospects Training Centre in Fairfax Drive, Westcliff and said it was going very well.
He said: "We are trying to encourage young people into the construction industry, because there seems to be a shortage of tradesmen at the moment.
"These are young men, still at school, who attend the course two days a week and the school sets up its other lessons around those days."
Mr Sheridan added the youngsters gain qualifications at NVQ level and also gain a head start in the building industry.
Cutting edge - Lee Byford learns carpentry skills from Rick Flexton, centre, watched by fellow pupil Raymond Burgess
Pictures: LUAN MARSHALL
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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