The final took place at LACA's Main Event on 11 July, with five shortlisted schools cooking in front of a live audience. Grace (aged 10), Amy (aged 10) and Laura (aged 8), supported by their school caterer Holly Charnock sourced local ingredients including rhubarb and raspberries from their school garden, honey form a local bee hive and eggs from the caterer’s pet chickens.
Holly Charnock, school caterer from Woodlands Primary School, said: “I want to say a huge thank you to all the team for such an enjoyable day yesterday, winning the competition really was a dream come true for all of us. I think it has only just hit me that it really did happen!
“It has been a once in a lifetime experience for the pupils and to see the growth in their confidence and cookery skills over the past few months has made all the hard work so worthwhile.
“To know we have achieved the highest score in the history of the competition really is the cherry on top of the cake. I urge any school thinking of entering to do so, it’s a fabulous opportunity which helps the children develop in both a social and academic way, I feel so proud to have been part of the journey.”
The judges were Andrew Green representing the Craft Guild of Chefs, Carol Harwood representing LACA, Mark Rigby executive chef at Premier Foods and professor Tanya Byron. The five schools were judged on their taste and presentation of their dishes and the teamwork and enthusiasm they displayed. Two of the four judges awarded full marks to Woodlands Primary School.
The school was awarded £1,000 worth of kitchen equipment, a prize that was presented to them by Michael Hales, chair of LACA.