Schools Essentials Skills

Did you know that Tante Marie School of Cookery can run a special Schools Essential Skills Cookery Course at your school?

This excellent introductory cookery course is now in its second successful year at St Catherine’s School in Bramley, Surrey and is being launched in other local schools from September 2005.

The course is taught at your school, by Tante Marie’s own  professional cookery teachers, in small groups of sixth form students with the emphasis on learning a life skill in an enjoyable and relaxed atmosphere. The content of the Schools Essential Skills course is similar to Tante Marie’s full time four week Essential Skills course, but there are thirty (2½ hour) sessions spread over three school terms, usually as an after school activity.

Techniques and skills covered include basic sauces, soups, eggs, pasta dishes, fish and shellfish, meat and roasts, offal, poultry, vegetables, canapés, hot and cold desserts including gelatine, pastries, cakes, biscuits, yeast cookery (including bread) and ice creams.

During the course students apply these skills to some great Tante Marie recipes  such as oven roasted Mediterranean vegetable tart, pancetta and blue cheese risotto, baked salmon with a mustard crust, chicken pancake stack,  fruit brulée, chocolate roulade and more!

All ingredients and expert tuition are included in the course fee. As well as taking some of their creations home, students are encouraged to demonstrate their new skills to their families as the course progresses.

As well as teaching a real life skill the Essential Skills Course is recognised by a considerable number of ski and leisure companies offering gap year and vacation employment. Tante Marie has excellent links with ski companies and the leisure industry.

Cost of course from September 2005

£450 per student per term * (to include all ingredients and teaching costs)

All three terms must be taken.

Courses can also be arranged to start in Winter or Summer terms

*courses are subject to minimum class size

Equipment: £120 for knife wallet, recipe file and Tante Marie apron.

Here is what Alice Phillips, Head Mistress at St Catherine’s, Bramley had to say about the course after the participating girls had cooked dinner for her and her Senior Management Team:

"I was very proud of our students, their cooking and their style, and best of all, the clear vindication of the whole course as something very worthwhile for students to undertake in their sixth form years” Alice Phillips , Head Mistress, St. Catherine’s

Here is what some of the students had to say on completion of their course:

"Thank You! It was really worthwhile and I would recommend it to lots of people. I am thinking of using the skills on my gap year. Thank you so much"

"Claire was a lovely teacher and I had a wonderful time. I am definitely glad I took part…..Thank You"

"The teaching was great, very relaxed but still learnt loads. Thank you for a brilliant course!"

Here is what some of the parents had to say:

"My daughter not only enjoyed herself but gained a great deal of knowledge about food, its preparation and the art of presentation. The meals we were treated to were of a first class standard every time."

"My daughter really enjoyed the course and gained a great deal from it…she learnt some really great cookery skills, it increased her confidence in cookery, it was fun…the staff running the course were very good and supportive."