Published at 13:04, Sunday, 21 October 2012

YOUNGSTERS are serving meals fit for royalty as part of a school cookery competition.

INSPIRATION: Black Combe Junior School teacher, Mark Redhead, who has been running cookery classes for his pupils, some of whom are now battling it out for a place in the school’s own MasterChef final HARRY ATKINSON REF: 50039965B000

The next generation of Jamie Olivers and Nigella Lawsons at Black Combe Junior School have been perfecting their food preparation for the past few weeks. Led by Year Four teacher and former chef, Mark Redhead, eight lucky contestants are battling it out for a place in the school’s own MasterChef final.

After setting the kids an initial task of preparing an Olympic athlete’s packed lunch, Mr Redhead whittled down the competition and asked the semi-finalists to create a meal for the royal family.

He said: “At the minute in school we’re having a big healthy eating drive, where the kids are being encouraged to eat lots of fruit and vegetables, as well as balanced meals.

“On top of that, I used to be a chef and started a cookery club in school. We just thought about making it a bit more exciting and from there we decided to do a MasterChef competition.

“Each year group (three to six) submitted their designs for the athlete’s packed lunch and I selected two from each year. From there, the semi-finalists had to design a meal for a visiting member of the royal family.”

For the past four weeks the kids have been practising their dishes in after-school clubs, with a place in next week’s surprise ingredient challenge final up for grabs.

Mr Redhead said: “I like doing cookery clubs because it’s a bit of a lost art.

“It’s giving the children the knowledge of how to go home and cook something for their mum and dad. They’ve all come up with really good ideas and recipes.”

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