A Wiltshire-based hospitality company whose MD is a member of the prestigious Royal Academy of Culinary Art has predicted that a student at Kingsbury Green Academy could have a glittering future as a chef, following her work placement at his cookery school.
Year 11 student Kate Rigby has long been interested in cooking so when Kate met Judy Dain, course director of Vaughan’s Kitchen’s cookery school based in Devizes, at one of Kingsbury Green Academy’s regular careers fairs, she was keen to take up the offer of an interview to do a work placement there.
“I felt very nervous before the interview but took some photos of food I’d cooked, and after two minutes of talking I felt really comfortable,” says Kate.“I learned so much there – how to do the preparation for events, producing around 50 orange brownies that needed to look exactly the same, toasting taco shells on an open fire in front of all the guests – it was amazing. And I plucked a load of pheasants! The whole experience has made me realise I definitely want a career in catering.”
Peter Vaughan, executive chef and managing director of Vaughan’s Kitchen and Vaughan’s Cookery School and a member of the prestigious Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, predicts that Kate will make a huge success of learning to be a chef.
“On placement, Kate was absolutely fantastic,” says Peter. “She is very suited to the profession, because she’s not only skilled and passionate about her cooking, but she also has stamina and strength of character. It’s very tough working in a commercial kitchen, but Kate was completely up to it. And prepping pheasants isn’t for everyone, but she got on with it with a smile.”
Kingsbury Green Academy, which is part of the Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Trust, was recently awarded an Area of Excellence badge by the educational organization Challenge Partners for its outstanding provision in careers education. Careers leader Catherine Young has established a careers programme involving local businesses that was described as “exceptional”.
Vaughan’s Cookery School course director Judy Dain says Calne-based Kingsbury Green Academy is her first port of call for engaging with young people.
“Vaughan’s Kitchen has linked up with Kingsbury Green Academy because, of all the schools we have had contact with, they are the very best at keeping in touch with employers in a very personal and proactive way,” says Judy. “Catherine Young goes above and beyond to keep us updated and involved, so it was an added pleasure to see how one of her students acquitted herself!”
To find out more about connecting students with sectors that inspire them contact[email protected]
For information on Vaughan’s Cookery School go to www.vaughanskitchen.co.uk/ or call 01380 530203.