Schools in Harold Hill will receive a £125,000 cash boost to help them get the very best out of their pupils.

The money is part of a £500,000 windfall for schools across the borough.

It was raised by the Havering Business and Education Partnership, which brings together local schools and businesses.

The handout is earmarked for three innovative new schemes which will be funded in partnership with the London East Training and Enterprise Council.

The first of these will be the Young Workers' Programme, which will give 45 Havering students the chance to set up and run their own company for four weeks this summer.

Based at the Weald Centre in Settle Road, the students will work on one of three projects - a youth magazine, a radio station which will be broadcast for one week on medium wave, and organising a talent show.

Dave Butler, managing director of the HBEP, said: "The aim is to prepare young people for the world of work and to identify and develop employability skills.

"We are also also looking for adult volunteers with relevant experience to act as advisers to the Young Workers' Programme. Anyone interested can call 01708 378378 for details."

The second pioneering project, Breaking the Circle at 14+, will allow up to 60 year 10 and 11 students a chance to spend one day a week at college and one day on a work placement.

Ten pupils from Harold Hill Community School are taking part in a pilot scheme.

Principal Chris Rudge said: "This is very worthwhile because it offers students who need something completely different from the routine course just that, and allows them to learn new skills and gain more self confidence. I look forward to it being extended next year."

The final initiative Breaking the Circle at 5+, is aimed at improving literacy among younger children by recruiting volunteer reading partners.

Harold Hill's Ingrebourne JM and I and Brookside Infant schools have both benefited so far.

Brookside head teacher Judith Puttick, whose year two pupils have been taking part since February, said: "It is so rewarding to see the children's faces when they see their reading partners come in.

''They look up and see an adult who is going to give them 20 minutes of their individual attention.

She added: "Our pupils have fairly low speaking and listening skills and so to spend 20 minutes a week with an interested adult is really good for them."

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