NEARLY 100 East Lothian school pupils will join a record intake at Queen Margaret University’s pioneering academy project this year.

More than 400 students have won a place in the innovative scheme which aims to boost educational and career opportunities for 15-18-year-olds by mixing school life with further education and workplace experiences.

The project started just two years ago as a trial with just 34 youngsters from three East Lothian schools.

Now it has pupils from more than 50 schools in Edinburgh, East and Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.

They include 90 pupils from East Lothian schools, including 14 from Musselburgh Grammar School, 26 from both Dunbar Grammar School and Ross High School, and 22 from Preston Lodge High School.

The academy project, pioneered by the Musselburgh university, has been hailed as one which is delivering real results for young people.

The Hospitality and Tourism Academy started in 2012 with the aim of smoothing the transition between school, college, university and work, as well as raising standards within the industry.

The South East Scotland Academies Project now offers four academies for young people with the addition of The Creative Industries Academy, the Food Science and Nutrition Academy, and the Health and Social Care Academy.

The project will mark one of its most significant milestones next month when the first cohort of students graduate.

Having successfully completed the full two-year Hospitality and Tourism Academy, the East Lothian pupils will be the first to graduate with an HNC in Hospitality.

These academy students will leave sixth year of school whilst also achieving a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Hospitality.

The additional qualification will secure them a place in specific courses at Edinburgh College or allow them to skip first year and move directly into the second year of BA (Hons) in International Hospitality & Tourism Management at QMU.