A group of talented young chefs from secondary schools across The Thinking Schools Academy Trust (TSAT) recently competed in an exciting culinary challenge. The inaugural TSAT School Food Influencer Competition brought together pupils to create delicious, nutritious dishes that could make their way onto their school menus.
The competition allowed pupils to show off their culinary flair and creativity. The task was to design a meal that’s not only tasty but also healthy enough to be served in their schools. Pupils had to follow the Government School Food Guidelines and ensure their meals contained specific food groups. They also had to consider how the dish would be prepared in a school kitchen and the cost per unit.
Representing schools across Kent and Devon, the competitors participated at The Victory Academy, Goodwin Academy, Holcombe Grammar School, Brixham College, and Paignton Academy. Each pupil brought their own unique ideas to the table, and their dishes were judged by leadership panels in each school.
The Victory Academy saw three Year 10 pupils take part. Tilly and Rhys created a delicious display containing Teriyaki Beef Tacos and Chicken Parm, but the school’s winner was Ellie, with her Peri Peri Chicken Tagiliatelle. Holcombe Grammar School’s winner is Aiden with his Special Fried Rice Dish.
Brixham pupils served up a storm: Isabelle’s Beef Tacos, Charlie C’s Chicken Burrito and Bella’s Chicken Gyros, but it was Charlie R’s Butterfly Chicken, Rice and Stuffed Mushroom that took the crown, moving forward to the next stage. The entries from Goodwin Academy consisted of Ruby’s Chicken Sausage Pasta, Bethany’s Burger Pasta and the winning dish, Freddie’s Sweet Chicken Stir Fry. After 80 entries, Paignton’s three finalists wowed their judges with Amelie’s Beef Tacos, Jacob’s Dirty Rice with Halloumi and Honey and the winning dish, Kara’s Banging Chicken.
When speaking about why they chose their dishes, pupils commented:
Jacob: “This dish is very popular in my house. My mum makes it every week! I choose it because it’s affordable, packed with nutrition, and appeals to everyone. Plus, you can mix it up by serving it in wraps.”
Kara: “I’ve always loved cooking, and pulled chicken is such a home pleaser. It’s full of flavour, easy to make, and my family always enjoys it when I cook.”
It wasn’t just about cooking skills; this competition was all about pupils engaging with the challenges of school food. By bringing creativity into the kitchen, the pupils proved that healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring. Some even added a bit of their own personality, designing dishes that could become future favourites in their school canteens.
Well done to all the pupils who entered and made it through to the semi-final cook-offs. After much deliberation, the judging panel compared their scores across all five schools, and the pupils who progress to the grand finale will enjoy a behind the scene tour at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, where their food will go up to a panel of experienced caterers to select the overall winner.
All winning dishes from each school will be served on their respective school menus during Term 5, allowing everyone to have a taste of their culinary creations, while the overall Trust winner will be added to secondary school menus Trust-wide, which is an outstanding achievement for all.
The event isn’t just a culinary contest; it’s a celebration of young talent, teamwork, and the potential to influence what’s on the menu at their schools.