leiths academy - prospectus...• moroccan lamb tagine with herb couscous • salmon fillets with a...

Courses for schools Inspiring cookery courses for pupils who wish to cook delicious, healthy dishes. Pro

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View all our courses and classes online at leithsacademy.com2

3View all our courses and classes online at leithsacademy.com

From nail-biting baking shows to healthy eating blogs, young people are increasingly interested in food.

Yet as they head off to university and the working world, many lack essential cooking skills, which can lead to a reliance on convenience food.

We’re on a mission to change this!

Leiths Academy was founded in 1996, and since then, thousands of teenagers have mastered key culinary techniques and discovered a real love of good, nutritious food.

We have established partnerships with more than 50 schools across the UK, and our strong relationship with these schools is key to our success.

In this booklet, you’ll discover the range of courses we offer, and the benefits these will bring your students and school.

Wherever you’re based, we’re always happy to come and see you to talk through the logistics.

We also offer fun taster sessions at Leiths School of Food and Wine in London, so do come along and try your hand at something new!

With very best wishes,

Alison CavalieroPrincipal, Leiths Academy

Contents How learning to cook

improves student wellbeing 5

Why choose Leiths Academy?

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Leiths Academy explained7

Let’s Cook! 8

Leiths Cookery Toolbox 9

Leiths Introductory Certificate

10Careers in food

12Holiday courses at Leiths

14Get in touch

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Find out more about Leiths AcademyContact Alison Cavaliero01225 [email protected]

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Welcome

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How learning to cook improves pupil wellbeing

When the bell rings to signal the end of break time, pupils need to get their brains into gear.

If Maths is on the menu, they need their abstract problem solving skills; if it’s English, they need to listen, understand and write.

Yet if they’re heading to a Leiths Academy class, a very different experience awaits.

Whether they’re carefully rolling out shortbread, filleting salmon, or tasting their Moroccan lamb tagine to see if it needs more spice, they’re using all five senses.

They’re also learning teamwork and time management, whilst developing maturity and confidence.

“When you’re cooking, you concentrate entirely on what you’re doing with your hands and if it works, you have the satisfaction of having created something just right, in that moment,” says Leiths board member Caroline Waldegrave.

“Pupils relax when they’re cooking. They’re busy making sure their sauce is reducing nicely, and worries about A-Levels disappear.”

As well as being a fabulous stress reliever, learning to cook benefits pupils’ physical health, their social life and their bank balance too, as the course teaches pupils to make the most of their food budget, and requires only simple equipment.

This really makes a difference when they head out into the world, as Rosemary Outhwaite, who took the Leiths Introductory Certificate at Stonar School, explains:

“All the recipes we cooked were made from scratch, using fresh produce and turning it into something delicious; whether that be a quick and healthy weekday supper, or a decadent chocolate roulade!

“The course taught me to cook from the raw ingredients instead of having to rely on convenience foods, a valuable skill and a far healthier approach to cooking.”

View all our courses and classes online at leithsacademy.com

Why Choose Leiths Academy?A Leiths cookery course can benefit your students in so many ways, from developing their confidence, time management and creativity, to adding an extra skill to their CVs and providing valuable UCAS points.

Beyond this, it can offer a route into the dynamic UK food industry, which offers a wide choice of career paths.

Another thing to consider is that the Leiths Academy can increase the appeal of your school in an incredibly competitive market. Most parents have heard of Leiths; it’s an attractive brand known for the strength of its teaching and culinary expertise.

The Leiths Academy is home economics with added passion and industry insight.

“I always had the Leiths course on my radar as I was aware that it would allow me to get more highly paid work as a student, as it gives you a skill. It’s also a useful qualification to put on your CV for other industries as it shows you have wider interests.”– Annabel Stanford, pupil, Millfield School

“It is hard to overstate just how positive a move this is for Truro School. Food has a very high profile in Cornwall and all pupils need to have basic skills in food preparation and nutrition. “The opening of the Truro School Cookery School, where we will run Leiths Academy classes, is a high quality response to ongoing feedback from parents and pupils and will have enormous benefits for our pupils, our parents and the local community.”– Andrew Gordon-Brown, Headmaster,

Truro School

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Leiths Academy Explained

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Leiths Academy courses take place in your school, and they are taught by your teachers. Leiths provides teacher training, a wealth of lesson-by-lesson content and lots of support.

The Practicalities

If you’re interested in running a Leiths Academy course at your school, we’ll start by visiting you to discuss your individual needs.

We know every school has different priorities, timetables and budgets, so we offer a range of courses to suit your preferences.

From a single taster lesson to a five term qualification, there are many options to choose from, and we can talk you through each one.

To run our two longer courses, you’ll need a teaching kitchen, but many of our shorter courses can be taught in informal surroundings.

Teacher Training

When you’re ready to get started, we’ll invite your teachers to an initial two day teacher training course at Leiths in London.

We’ll demonstrate the skills your teachers will need to teach our methods, ensuring your pupils learn the same professional skills and techniques that have been perfected by Leiths staff over many years.

Initial teacher training is supplemented by continuous behind-the-scenes support, and an annual course workshop.

Cookery teachers are also offered a special saving on courses at Leiths as part of their continued professional development.

Schools opting to run the Introductory Certificate in Food and Wine (five terms) will receive eight Leiths visits during the course. This provides us with the opportunity to get to know the students and assess their progress.

It also allows us to give pupils additional support and guidance, to ensure they achieve the best they can, as well as giving us the chance to meet class teachers, answer questions and provide further advice.

Getting Started

As your prepare to launch the Leiths Academy in your school, we’ll provide you with a full complement of course materials, including lesson plans, topic handouts and food diaries for your pupils to complete. M

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Let’s Cook!

Suitable for Years 5 - 13

Cooking needn’t be daunting! Our Let’s Cook! sessions are fun and flexible.

We know timetables can be busy, so this course fits around you.

Whether you’d like to give pupils a single standalone lesson, or run a course over three terms, we can tailor our approach to suit your school.

We offer differentiated material for junior and senior schools, and you can even choose between 55 minute and two hour lesson plans.

Your pupils will soon be creating delicious dishes like Rosemary chicken kebabs with sundried tomato and basil couscous, or Ginger lime cheesecake with glazed strawberries.

They’ll also pick up a range of key skills that they’ll use throughout their lives.

Helpful Information

Pupils are awarded a Leiths Certificate of Attendance.

No cooking facilities? No problem, this course can be taught on portable stoves, anywhere with a water supply, be it art room or cricket pavilion.

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Leiths Cookery ToolboxSuitable for Years 10 - 13

Cooking in pairs, students will master the building blocks of cooking during this hands-on, fun-filled course.

Over twelve 1.5 hour cookery sessions, they’ll cover knife skills, food safety, time planning and healthy eating as they cook tasty dishes such as:

• Moroccan lamb tagine with herb couscous• Salmon fillets with a hot and sweet crust• Sunday roast with all the trimmings• Rosemary focaccia• Chocolate roulade

With a few written exercises to reinforce learning, and a celebratory meal to look forward to at the end of the course, students will gain all the skills and inspiration they need to keep on cooking with confidence long after the course has finished.

Helpful Information

Pupils are awarded a Leiths Certificate of Attendance.

This course fulfils the requirements for the ‘New Skill’ section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award.

“My daughter loves her Leiths lessons – a total change from her day to day academic subjects. She‘s enjoying cooking and experimenting in the holidays, and she’s making meals for the family so everyone is happy!” – Parent, King’s College, Taunton


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The Leiths Introductory Certificate in Food and Wine

Suitable for Years 12 & 13

The final years of school are an exciting time. Pupils are gaining independence, pushing themselves to achieve academic success, and setting their sights on the future.

Wherever they’re headed, once they leave home, they’ll need to take charge of their own meals.

This means budgeting, shopping and cooking for themselves, and cooking for friends and family too!

The Course

The Leiths Introductory Certificate in Food and Wine gives pupils a thorough grounding in everyday cookery, and the theory behind it.

This comprehensive introduction to cookery promotes a positive attitude towards food, with students learning how to make the most of fresh ingredients, as well as how to eat healthily as part of a balanced lifestyle.

They’ll be taught how to buy and store food sensibly, use up leftovers, and make meals from the store cupboard.

They will also receive training in:

• reading and understanding recipes• time management• food hygiene• presentation skills• teamwork• cooking independently• wine appreciation

Flavour First

Not only does the course cover essential life skills, it’s fun and delicious too!

From Za’atar crusted prawns with a bulgar wheat and herb salad, to Duck breasts with ginger, chilli and lime and Summer berry pavlova, flavour comes first!

Course Format

The course consists of 40 lessons that are a minimum of 2.5 hours long. It’s usually held over five terms.

Employment Opportunities

Pupils completing this course often find employment in the food industry during their GAP year and beyond. Many use their skills to cook for clients in ski chalets and private homes; others take on seasonal catering jobs in the UK and abroad.

The Leiths List agency is often able to connect Academy-trained pupils with employers seeking a chef.

Assessment

As you guide students through the course, you’ll see we’ve suggested a mixture of informal tests and written coursework to help you monitor their progress.

Students will also take a 2.5 hour practical exam and a separate theory exam, both assessed by a visiting Leiths teacher.


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Qualifications

Those who complete this course with distinction will receive 36 UCAS points.

The course fulfils the ‘New Skill’ section of the Duke of Edinburgh‘s Gold Award, and it’s a great interest to mention on a UCAS personal statement.

Students with a passion for food may wish to continue their training at Leiths in London. Those who have taken the Leiths Introductory Certificate are usually able to omit the Foundation Term of the Leiths Diploma, and complete the Diploma in just two terms.

“I always wanted to do a Leiths course as I love to cook and I’m interested in nutrition. The course exceeded my expectations in terms of enjoyment and it definitely improved my employability. If you enjoy cooking or just want to enhance your skills, definitely do it. It is a commitment but there are huge benefits and it has helped me find work I thoroughly enjoy.”– Alana Gillard, pupil, Leweston School

“The opportunity to do the Leiths course was one of the main selling points of the school I ended up going to, and I could not have enjoyed my Leiths experience more. The classes were always one of the highlights of my week. Post school, the qualification has been invaluable. I cook from scratch on a daily basis at university, I have regular dinner parties for friends and family, and every year I have a cake stall at our local fete. Beyond this, the course has opened up employment opportunities. These vary from smaller, more informal jobs like catering for a friend’s dinner party or baking a birthday cake, to the more formal job I did last summer of cooking for a family on their holiday. More recently, the qualification played a big part in helping me get a placement at BBC Good Food magazine. Even once I was there, the qualification came in handy as it meant that I was able to experience time in the kitchen, testing recipes for upcoming issues.”– Lottie McNair Scott, pupil,

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Careers in FoodEvery year, a number of Leiths Academy students decide to take their passion for food a step further and study at Leiths School of Food and Wine in London.

Described as ‘the Oxbridge of the Food World’, Leiths offers an exhilarating Diploma course at their purpose-built school in West London.

With A-levels done and dusted, the Diploma is a fantastic option for creative, gutsy food lovers looking for an exciting career in the food industry.

In less than a year, students leave with a professional qualification and start developing their careers right away.

There’s a real shortage of good chefs in the workforce, so with a Leiths Diploma under their belt, students are almost guaranteed to be able to go straight into the food industry.

“The Introductory Certificate launched me into the world of cooking as a professional. During my GAP year I was a chalet host for the winter season. I then worked on a private shooting estate before moving to a 4 * hotel and spa on the south coast before joining the Diploma. Whilst studying, I worked as an events chef, cooked for a family at a chalet in Austria, volunteered for Taste of London and worked in the pastry section at Spring Restaurant! Since graduating with distinction I have been fully employed all summer with a wide selection of private client assignments and the autumn is looking busy!”– Georgie Chadfield, pupil, Bruton School for Girls,

and student, Leiths Diploma 2018

The Leiths Teachers

Friendly and inspiring, the Leiths teachers have valuable knowledge to impart, as they are all experienced chefs from different areas of the food industry.

Some have progressed through the ranks at Michelin starred restaurants like Chez Bruce; others have run their own event catering companies.

The student-teacher ratio is 1:8, there are at least 30 contact hours each week, and teachers taste students’ food and give feedback every day!

Career Support

Leiths industry links are second to none. Every term we invite chefs like Tom Kerridge and Atul Kochhar to visit our students. Then there are day trips to a Sussex vineyard and Billingsgate Market.

Leiths List, our agency for cooks, will also provide one-on-one careers advice, and help students organise work experience placements.

Recent placements have included:

• Waitrose Magazine• The Ember Yard• Claridge’s• Chalet Emeraude, Switzerland• Saturday Kitchen, Cactus TV

The support continues after graduation; when we surveyed our graduates over five years, we found that 71% had used Leiths List to find a job.


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Diverse Career Opportunities

While many graduates go to work at top restaurants, just as many choose other paths. Some, like Alan Rosenthal of Stewed! and Camilla Stephens of Higgidy Pies, start their own food companies.

Others, like Diana Henry, Xanthe Clay and Rosie Reynolds, work as food writers and food stylists or enjoy careers working as commercial recipe testers for big brands. The Diploma is highly regarded in these industries, which often offer more civilised hours of work.

The Leiths Ethos

If you ask any Leiths student why they chose us, they’ll almost always mention the warm, friendly atmosphere at the School, where individuals of all ages, and from all backgrounds, are united by a love of food.

We do not simply train you to be a chef; we focus on training rounded, multi-skilled, resourceful culinary professionals. The Leiths chef is the person you want in the kitchen when the oven breaks down, when you need fresh, creative menu ideas, or when you’re launching a restaurant on the side of a mountain!

A Varied Modern Syllabus

While Leiths teaches the classic skills that students rely on throughout their careers, the emphasis is on delicious, unfussy cooking where the ingredients come first.

Our modern approach encompasses a range of world cuisines, from Peruvian to Moroccan, and a full complement of culinary techniques, from pickling and smoking to cooking with Nitrous Oxide.

Train at Leiths and you’ll learn to be disciplined in the kitchen, but you’ll also free your inner creativity.

“If ever anybody comes to me for a job and I hear they’ve trained at Leiths, I want them.” – Rick Stein

“Leiths carries the standard in food education; everybody looks up to Leiths to produce the best graduates.”

– Yotam Ottolenghi

“Most of the people on our food team have been trained at Leiths, because I know that they will have had solid training that means they will develop the most brilliant recipes.”– Karen Barnes, Editor, delicious. magazine

CASE STUDY

Mary Harding

I was really academic at school, so when I got A*AA at A-level, everyone expected me to go to university.

The result was a very unhappy and expensive eight weeks at university trying to do something when my heart really wasn’t in it.

I took a GAP year after school, working for a Leiths trained chef, The Game Chef, in Somerset, which really fostered my interest in food. I also did work experience with MasterChef winner Steven Edwards.

When it was time to go to university I knew I didn’t want to go, but I felt I had to fulfil expectations.

In reality, all I wanted to do was to cook!

I’d been lucky enough to do the Leiths Academy Introductory Certificate while I was at school, and those three hours cooking on a Wednesday night were by far the highlight of my week.

Leaving university was a huge, terrifying decision, but I’m so glad I made it. Choosing the Leiths Diploma was by contrast the easiest decision I’ve ever made and I’ve never looked back.

I’ve gained a huge amount from the course; I can’t even begin to explain how much I’ve learnt. The teachers are phenomenal and the course is so well organised. I’ve also met

some amazing friends and made a lot of really great contacts in the industry.

I can’t think of a better career starter for someone who’s interested in food. The industry is huge and incredibly varied, so the options are endless once you’ve graduated from Leiths. Many of my friends are graduating from Uni now and they either have no idea what they want to do or can’t get jobs. It makes me feel so lucky that I can make my passion into my career. My theory is that everyone has to eat so hopefully I won’t be out of a job!

Winning Student of the Year blew me away and I still feel really shy about mentioning it.

After graduating I worked as a private chef on the French island of Île de Ré, before joining Nathan Outlaw‘s team at his restaurant in Cornwall.

I now run the Indus River Kitchen in the Western Himalayas.

I’m excited about my career in food, and so pleased I followed my heart.



Holiday Courses at LeithsIf your students have enjoyed taking Leiths Academy classes at school, they may wish to join us at our West London cookery school during the holidays.

We offer an exciting array of courses and classes, perfect for young people with a passion for food.

Let’s Cook! The Cookery Toolbox for TeenagersSuitable for 12 - 17 year olds

Our Cookery Toolbox for Teenagers is a great summer holiday course for food loving youngsters; think of it as a culinary alternative to the classic summer camp!

Students will gain a range of key cooking skills on this practical, fun-packed course for budding chefs.

Packed with lots of top cooking tips, young chefs will emerge keen to show off their new skills, and may even share the leftovers!

Let’s Cook! One Day ClassesWe offer a range of one day classes for 12 - 17 year olds, such as:

• Street food• Italian• Curries• Mexican• Sushi• Tapas and Spanish

Our course programme changes every year, so the best way to find out what’s on is to visit www.leiths.com.

Kitchen Survival KitSuitable for 15 - 18 year olds.

We also run a separate course for 18 - 25 year olds.

This fun, ridiculously useful course is ideal for those heading to sixth form or into the working world. Including indispensable techniques such as cooking fish, preparing a Sunday roast with all of the trimmings, cooking Chilli con carne for friends and creating irresistible puddings such as Chocolate roulade and Peach Melba crumble; this is the perfect one stop shop for a first foray into cooking.

School TripsWe can often accommodate school groups in our light, airy, well-equipped professional kitchens. To find out more please email [email protected].

Allergies and Dietary Restrictions

Please call the school in advance to discuss any relevant allergies with a member of staff.

“I’ve been on two brilliant Leiths classes. The first one was last summer - Baking for Teenagers. I went with one of my best friends from school. We made Orange cheesecake brownies, Mini lemon syrup loaves and ginormous purple iced cupcakes. I had so much fun we’ve decided to make it an annual thing! Then I went on Curries from around the World. All the teachers were so friendly and helpful and they gave me so many tips about how to chop vegetables and use a knife properly. We made Malaysian Kari Laksa Udang – a curry made with prawns. We had lots of laughs as we cooked and it was a brilliant day!”– Nancy Flintoff, 13

15View all our courses and classes online at leithsacademy.com

Get in TouchWhether you know the Leiths Academy is a match made in heaven for your school or you simply have an inkling it could work, we are here for an informal, no obligation chat.

Lead by Alison Cavaliero and Sarah Keene, the Leiths Academy team are here to answer your questions and they can also visit your school to discuss the logistics with you.

You can reach the team on 01225 722983 or by emailing [email protected].

We hope to see you soon.

leithsacademy.com01225 722983

leiths academy - prospectus...• moroccan lamb tagine with herb couscous • salmon fillets with a...

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