Students from three Midlothian secondary schools, Dalkeith, St David's and Saltersgate, graduated from the Heart of Midlothian Education and Community Trust's Xtra Time programme, yesterday.

The initiative which has been running from early January at Tynecastle Stadium and the Hearts Football Academy, and is aimed at fourth year students who will leave secondary education in the summer.

Activities included in the ten week programme have included:

  • Interactive food preparation with Hearts head chef
  • Team building at the Ratho climbing centre
  • Motivational talks with former players
  • Fitness sessions with Hearts sports scientist
  • Delivering football coaching sessions to primary school pupils

    Hearts starlets Ryan McGowan and David Templeton were on hand to present certificates and speak to the students involved.

    The final step for these young people will be to deliver a coaching session to primary pupils in front of a packed Tynecastle Stadium at half-time in a game in the next few weeks.

    Hearts community development manager Alan White commented, "The students selected for this programme were all made aware of the need to consider their future whether that be through further education, training through work or to identify career areas they may be interested in engaging with.

    "All the activities were very much football flavoured and aimed to provide students with the motivation, inspiration and guidance for the next stage of their personal and professional development.

    "From the first day at the Ratho climbing centre through to the graduation cermony today the students have all shown they have the gusto and enthusiasm to do well and help themselves to make positive personal and lifestyle choices in the years ahead."

    Heart of Midlothian would like to thank Midlothian Council for programme funding and for being such a forward thinking and progressive community partner and for helping develop the brand new Xtra Time programme at Tynecastle Stadium