The line-up was completed this week when the last of the regional rounds saw Alison Dombrick of Bentley Primary School in Hampshire win through to join nine other regional winners in the final.
Anne Bull, head of LACA (Lead Association for CAtering in Education), which organises the annual competition, said: “With each year setting yet another new precedent for the next competition, LACA School Chef of the Year continues to represent a positive way of communicating the benefits of striving for a high quality school meals service in order to help safeguard the health of the next generation.
“Parents should be reassured that our talented education catering teams not only prepare tasty and imaginative dishes to tempt the taste buds of discerning children and young people but also nutritious meals that can make a major contribution towards altering eating habits, improving diets and decreasing obesity levels.
“The finalists and all of the contestants that have taken part this year should serve as a real inspiration for the food and beverage service in every school nationwide.”
Under the rules of the competition each entrant is required to produce, in just one and a half hours, a healthy balanced two-course meal comprising of a main course and dessert that would appeal to eleven year olds in school.
A maximum of £1.60 is allowed for the cost of a single meal (i.e. main course and dessert) for one child.
Rules also require competitors to use some products from the range available from sponsor Maggi from Nestlé Professional.
Commenting on the standard of craftsmanship and cooking he has witnessed at all the regional finals this year, Justin Clarke, food development chef at Nestlé Professional said: “This is my third year as chair of judges and, again, what an amazing year it has been.
“I love judging this competition and look forward to it because every contestant really wants the title of LACA National School Chef of the Year. Many contestants re-appear each year to take up the challenge.
“There’s no doubt that the culinary standard of food, creativity and technical ability has far more imagination than ever before, with many dishes of global influence hitting food trends.”
The national final will take place once again at Food Services Wing, Defence Logistics School, Worthy Down near Winchester, Hampshire and the line-up is:
East Midlands School Chef of the Year 2014
Gail Boyce, Bolsover C of E Junior School, Bolsover (Derbyshire CC)
Eastern School Chef of the Year 2014
Tanya Watkin, Woodland Middle Academy School, Flitwick, Beds (Beds CC)
London School Chef of the Year 2014
Shereene Weston, St Mary Magdelen Catholic Primary School, Lewisham (LB of Lewisham)
North East & Scotland School Chef of the Year 2014
Bridget McCulla, Jarrow School, Tyne & Wear (S Tyneside Council)
North West School Chef of the Year 2014
Debbie Sidlow, Meadowbank Primary School, Manchester (Manchester City Council)
South East School Chef of the Year 2014
Alison Dombrick, Bentley Primary School, Bentley, Hampshire (HC3S)
South West School Chef of the Year 2014
Jodie Pearce, Wembury Primary School, Plymouth, (Devon Norse)
Welsh School Chef of the Year 2014
Kate Davies, St Gwladys Primary School, Bargoed (Caerphilly CBC)
West Midlands School Chef of the Year 2014
Vicky Brammer, Crescent Academy, Stoke on Trent (Stoke on Trent Council)
Yorks & Humber School Chef of the Year 2014
Katherine Breckon, Westcliffe CP School, Whitby (N Yorkshire CC)