After three baking heats at this year’s LACA conference, eight school cooks have risen to the challenge and won a place in the finals of the first ever Big School Bake Off Competition in October.
TV Bake Off winner Jo Wheatley led the team of judges including Sylvie Babout representing LACA and Andy Lagor, Unilever Food Solutions education chef. They chatted to the sixteen semi-finalists while they baked. At the end of the session the judges had the delicious task of sampling the finished bakes – all of which needed to be baker’s own recipe and suitable for serving in a school environment.
Wonderful bakes
Andy Lagor said: “There were some wonderful bakes and the standard was incredibly high, which made the judging really tough. It was great to see these school cooks demonstrating such creativity and skill in their baking.”
The eight finalists and their bakes
Helen Mastin, The Deepings School, Peterborough – Chocolate Fudge Brownies
Lisa Marsh, Glenfall Community Primary School, Cheltenham – Banoffee Cake
Amanda Barrett, Bodmin College – Very Berry Oaty Muffins
Sarah Medlicott, Torbay School, Paignton – Apple, Strawberry Crumble Cake
Kelly Mileham, Cumnor House School, Haywards Heath – Rhubarb and Sour Cream Cake
Heather Evans, Stocksbridge High School, Sheffield – Tutti Frutti Cake
Hazel Forrester, Godington Primary School, Ashford, Kent – Funky Fruit Rock Cakes
Mary Clinton, Glenmoor and Winton Schools, Bournemouth Courgette, Apricot and Orange Cakes.
Delighted with response
James Allred, channel marketing manager, Unilever Food Solutions said: “We’re really delighted with the response to our first Big School Bake Off Competition, supported by Stork, in partnership with LACA. It’s really caught the imagination of school chefs and cooks. We launched the competition as part of our own School Food Programme to recognise the great talent and passion we know there is in school kitchens. This was quite evidently shown across all the heats and we know there were some really tough choices to be made by the judges”.
“We’re really excited about the finals which will be held at the Unilever Food Service culinary centre on 7 October.”