Bon appétit!
Every Friday, under the supervision of our Chef, Mr Kilby, the boys can take part in a very popular cooking club. Being able to cook pizzas or bake cookies at school is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding activities for the boys, but also for us, the teachers. A cooking club isn’t just about eating delicious treats! I am convinced that cooking helps boys become more independent and confident.
Everyone has a clear role and a real responsibility - cleaning up afterward is part of the experience and our boys rise to the challenge, helping each other out, cleaning up as a team. The quicker it is done, the better.
Boys get hands-on experience with measuring ingredients, following instructions, and understanding basic nutrition, while enjoying something everyone loves - good ‘home-made’ food. Our cooking club encourages creativity with the boys often trying new ingredients or putting a personal twist on a recipe – Have you heard of sweet and cheesy scones? We have!
In our club, every dish is a success – honest! There is a real, palpable sense of achievement at 4pm, when we can smell our success before even seeing the result. It is clear that the boys feel proud to cook; while their friends beg for some of their creations, they are keen to take their baking back home, and share it with their families.
I might need to state the obvious - cooking clubs are great fun. They provide a break from routine, from classroom learning, and allow our boys to relax while still being productive. Laughing together, tasting new foods, and celebrating successful dishes make the club something pupils look forward to each week. These positive experiences create lasting memories and a lifelong appreciation for cooking. With so many popular programmes to discuss - “Is this cake?” “MasterChef” , “The Great Bake Off” , to name but a few, our boys are keen to be the next super chefs of their generation.
We’ve had several cooking incentives at CCCS over the years - cooking at home when COVID was around and sharing our screens to make sure we all followed the same recipe, following French recipes at home and cooking a 'gâteau au yaourt' in French lessons, to more recent Language Days when our pupils are encouraged to bake an international dish or decorate a cake to represent a country of their choice.
In my eyes, learning to cook goes hand in hand with the joy one has, sharing a meal with loved ones. I am hoping the boys will be more grateful for the meals that ‘appear’ infront of them at the dinner table, and who knows, suggest baking your next Sunday pudding! Do support them, it can’t go wrong!
Mme Sophie Loyer
Cookery Club Leader
French Teacher
Form 6 Tutor
