Whether you want to work in a professional kitchen or become a world-famous food blogger, critic, or stylist, you’ll be encouraged to interpret traditional cooking techniques and apply them to your own work.
A successful journey through this industry is powered by a strong sense of curiosity, a desire to learn and by receiving relevant, authentic, motivating instruction that sparks the imagination. This is aligned with the Activate Learning Philosophy,, which is rooted in an understanding of how the brain, motivation and emotions work together to encourage learning.
In each programme, you will use a more experimental and scientific approach in order to develop your cooking skills and senses. Complete your journey of culinary exploration and discover methods of applying the principles of food science and cooking to new routes and possibilities.
We add experiences and opportunities to help you get ahead in your career, including:
- work alongside experienced chefs on live projects
- the opportunity to compete in regional and national food competitions
- catering for big events, including awards dinners and functions
What you'll learn
Creating a true culinary experience starts and ends in the mind; your skills are simply the tools that will bring that vision to reality.
On this programme, you will build on your existing skills and knowledge. You will further your understanding of preparing and cooking stocks, meat and offal, fish and shellfish and desserts. You will also expand your knowledge of professional kitchens’ legal and social responsibilities. These skills will be vital in building a career in any professional kitchen, anywhere in the world.
However, what sets this programme apart from others is our emphasis on the fundamentals of understanding ingredients and exploring their tastes, flavours and fusions. Inspired by these critical attributes, you will be provided with a rich variety of learning experiences, including:
- practical exploration
- food science experiments
- work and industry experience
- customer-facing activity
- employer-led projects
You will benefit from the Activate Learning Attributes curriculum, which will help you develop the key characteristics and skills employers seek in potential employees. This will be achieved through one-to-one support sessions.
If you are still working towards gaining GCSEs in English or maths, or if you need help developing your digital skills, we can help with that too.
The following areas can be covered within this qualification:
- Prepare, cook and finish fresh pasta dishes
- Prepare, cook and finish complex bread and dough products
- Prepare fish for complex dishes
- Prepare shellfish for complex dishes
- Prepare meat for complex dishes
- Maintain food safety when preparing, storing and cooking food
- Produce healthier dishes
- Develop productive working relationships with colleagues
- Contribute to the control of resources
- Prepare, cook and finish complex pastry products
- Prepare, process and finish complex chocolate products
Learners will complete the mandatory units, plus the required optional units to achieve the full qualification. On successful completion of the course, you will be awarded the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Professional Cookery
How you'll learn and be assessed
Our qualified and professional tutors will provide instruction in our industry-standard, fully-equipped kitchens on-site.
The focus of this programme is experimenting with flavours and culinary experiences. Exploration and failure are key parts of learning; you will be encouraged to take risks and given the confidence and support necessary to do so.
Learning for each module will begin with a playful multi-sensory exploration of ingredients, flavours and methods and end with self-reflective evaluation. You will learn to tell the story of your food exploration and practice the skill of intriguing customers. In between, there is guided self-assessment, peer review and formal instruction from tutors.
The cornerstone of this programme is the development of your attributes to ensure that, at the end of each programme, you are highly employable and can apply your learning practically. This will entail one-to-one guidance from your tutor and self-assessment.
- Assessment of your practical skills is continuous and we test your theoretical knowledge too.
- Your tutor monitors your progress and offers advice and guidance so you achieve the most from your study.
- At the end of this journey, you will graduate with a Professional Cookery qualification endorsed by City & Guilds.
Progression
On successful completion of this this qualification, candidates may progress into employment or to the following City & Guilds qualification:
Level 3 Diploma in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership (NVQ) (7250
You could go on to study at degree level, complete a higher (Level 4) Apprenticeship or pursue employment.
Entry requirements
This level will suit you if you’ve worked in a professional kitchen for some time or have a Level 2 qualification.
This course is ideal if you have a supervisory role in a kitchen – perhaps as a chef de partie or demi chef and are aiming for a promotion. Your work might involve supervising others. You want to develop your skills further, perhaps to become a specialist chef or move into a management role.
Applicants will normally have at least five GCSEs at Grade 4 (C) or above (including some subjects related to the proposed area of study) and the willingness to study for an additional Level 2 qualification in English and/or maths.
Applicants will be invited to attend an interview and complete an internal assessment. All students will have their literacy and numeracy needs supported within the programme.
Additional information
The focus of this programme is experimenting with flavours and culinary experiences. Exploration, as well as failure, is a key part of learning and you will be encouraged to take risks and given the confidence and support necessary to do so.
The cornerstone of this programme is the development of your attributes to ensure at the end of each programme you are highly employable and that you can apply your learning practically. This will entail one-to-one guidance from your tutor and self assessment.
