The Earl and Countess of Wessex today visited a scheme which aims to boost young people's chances of getting a job after they leave school.

The couple, on one of their first full official visits since they announced they would devote their time to Royal duties, were spending the day supporting the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

They watched pupils of Firfield School in the tough Newcastle suburb of Blakelaw being put through their paces under the instruction of former British Army officers.

The Skill Force project, which is part of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, aims to give children ''at risk of being disaffected'' a better chance, according to team leader Steve Handford, a former captain with the Royal Fusiliers.

He told PA News today: ''They really want to better themselves, they work hard to build up their self-esteem and teamwork and that helps their job-seeking skills.''

The Countess, wearing a navy blue suit with grey trim, and her husband who wore a charcoal grey double-breasted suit, were introduced to 16-year-olds who had taken part in the scheme.

One, Lyndsey Bell, said afterwards: ''Sophie seems like a lovely lady, she was asking about what we are going to do after school.''

Schoolmate Keely Laughlin, also 16, added: ''We think it's really good that they've come here today, it is good publicity for our school as well.''

When the Royal couple arrived at the comprehensive, which is due to merge with others this summer, a group of four teenagers with a pushchair were waiting at the security gates.

There was a warm welcome from the pupils inside the school for the Countess, who was on her first official visit to Tyneside.

They watched about 10 pupils receive their bronze Duke of Edinburgh awards at a special school assembly before Edward made a short speech to the school, which closed in 1998 and later reopened, and was the subject of a damning TV documentary.

He encouraged pupils to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, saying that it gave him a broader experience of life than merely being taught.

''When I was at school it was never really academic lessons that inspired me.''

He said he enjoyed arranging activities under the scheme, adding with a smile: ''Anybody who thinks I did it because of my father, it's not true''.

The Royal couple were due to visit other Duke of Edinburgh schemes in North and South Tyneside this afternoon.