Moreton Hall becomes the only school in the North to offer the Leiths School of Food cooking course to Year 7’s. Moreton Hall is one of a limited number of approved centres across the UK to deliver the professional Leiths Certificate in Food and Wine course. The course challenges practical cookery lessons and runs alongside students’ A Level choices, equipping individuals with a lifelong skill and supporting their university applications.

Leiths School of Food and Wine, founded by Prue Leith who is best known  as a judge on the nation’s favourite TV programme: The Great British Bake Off,  is an award winning UK cookery school offering a world class professional chef diploma and cooking classes. Leiths comprehensive curriculum covers everything from basic cooking techniques to advanced culinary skills, and it has a strong emphasis on using high-quality, seasonal ingredients and sustainable cooking practices.

This year’s Year 7 are the first at Moreton Hall to follow the brand new and innovative Leiths cook-along course, called Leiths Academy Kitchen. Leiths Academy Kitchen has taken the admin out of traditional cooking classes by delivering a step-by-step cookery videos led by Leiths teachers.

Moreton’s Year 7 will complete six recipes this term and the curriculum has been designed to build up young people’s confidence in the kitchen. Moreton’s Remove will get the opportunity to cook plant-based recipes, desserts and much more, creating delicious, healthy and budget conscious meals.

The recipes are designed to be made within one hour either by an individual pupil or in pairs. Pupils can watch the demonstration beforehand or cook along with the Leiths teacher, meaning that pupils can cook at their own pace and work independently in the kitchen.

Leiths online mission statement explains that the vision for Leiths is really straightforward. It’s about techniques, flavour, ingredients and teaching people to cook delicious food.

Emma Colemere, Food Technology teacher, said: “Learning how to cook using the freshest of ingredients will prepare our pupils for their future ensuring that they leave school with a mind full of knowledge about nutrition and how to prepare food, really well. It is said that, when you cook for yourself, you learn to enjoy healthy foods. Our aim in Food Preparation and Nutrition at Moreton Hall is to equip pupils with the knowledge they need in life to make healthy food choices.”

Moreton Hall’s Year 7 Leiths Class.