Leiths, the cookery school founded by the Great British Bake Off's Prue Leith is offering cookery courses for under 18s for the first time.
The six week course, which will see students cooking a full menu each week, has been specially created to help teenagers learn a new skill during and after lockdown.
As well as learning knife skills and all-important kitchen hygiene, students will whip up pavlovas and blueberry crumble cakes, a Mexican chilli with spicy guacamole, classic fish pie topped with crispy filo pastry, and many more family-friendly dishes, including the ultimate brunch.
Leiths MD Camilla Schneideman said: “We're known for running courses to build confidence in the kitchen for students young and old at Leiths, so when my son's school got in touch asking if we had anything in our online armoury for young people looking to build cooking skills during lockdown, we leaped at the challenge. And the course isn't just suited to the current situation.
“Many schools struggle to bring good quality cooking courses to their students because of lack of space and qualified teachers.
"Our online courses effectively deliver the teacher to your home kitchen, so teens can get to work in a familiar environment, and have the satisfaction of cooking proper meals for the family.
“Building confidence in the kitchen is essential, particularly as the moment to leave home approaches. Learning fundamental knife skills: how to make a white sauce, throwing together a tray-bake to please a crowd, or a delicious healthy brunch; these are all skills that will last a lifetime.
“Cooking also builds on creativity, time management and planning skills. And of course, during the current crisis, it can also bring families together and ease tension, which is especially important right now.”
Created in partnership with tech company Workshop - who have built a user-friendly learning app - the course utilises the latest scientific research on how we learn.
The course is flexible, with three hours of cooking each week and students are encouraged to be sociable and share pictures of their cooking online.
Throughout the process, students will be guided by a Leiths mentor - one of the professional chefs who teach on the school's professional culinary diploma - who will be on hand to answer all their questions.
The Leiths' Teen Cookery Toolbox: online course costs £195 (reduced from £295 in recognition of the current situation), and is open for bookings now.
The first cohort starts Monday 4th of May with new students being added weekly. For more information and to book a place, visit the Leiths website.
Teacher's and parents' groups can email bookings@leiths.com to enquire about group discounts.
