Bridge Learning Campus to Host Mini MasterChef Competition!

Bridge Learning Campus, the

new Trust school that was built to replace the old Hartcliffe college, has

taken up the challenge of the "Let's Get Cooking" programme.

Funded by The BIG Lottery Fund, the "Let's Get

Cooking" programme is led by the School Food Trust in partnership with other bodies such as the

Prince's Trust.  It has three key targets:

• By the end of the five-year programme over 1

  million children, family members and members of the local community will

  increase their food preparation or cooking skills as a result of Let's Get

  Cooking.

• 70% of participants, who learn a new healthy

  eating skill through Let's Get Cooking, will use that skill at home.

• 50% of children, young people and families who

  participate will eat more nutritionally healthy food.

Linda Selby, who helps run

the programme at The Bridge Learning Campus, was keen to point out the many

benefits of getting children involved with cooking and healthy eating at an

early stage.

"We were delighted to get involved with this initiative," she said.  "It

will help our children learn about nutrition in a fun way, encourage them to

sit and eat meals with their families, as well as giving them the confidence to

prepare and cook great food."

Pupils are being encouraged

to cook simple foods with simple ingredients and to understand the great

variety of seasonal and local produce that is available throughout the

year.  Sausage and Bean Hot Pot was

recently on the menu as was Rogan Josh, the aromatic Lamb Curry!

Children from the Bridge Secondary

School, who are participating in the "Let's Get

Cooking" programme, will invite their families to the campus to enjoy the

fruits of their labour.  The budding

chefs will then meet and greet their families, seat them and serve them the

delicious yet healthy meals that they have cooked. 

Pupils at the nearby Perry

Court Infant and Junior

Schools in Hengrove have also

shown enthusiasm for their "Let's Get Cooking" Club and they have decided to

run a competition to see who will be their Mini Masterchef.

The winners will compete in

the final to be held at the Bridge Learning Campus in Hartcliffe.

Perry Court's cooking club is organised by Lin Dyer and Chris

Nicholas, teaching assistants at the Hengrove junior school.  Over 20 Pupils from Years 5 and 6 have entered

the heats, which will require them cooking a Starter, a Main Course or a

Dessert.

Matthew Edwards, Head of

The Secondary School at Bridge Learning Campus in Hartcliffe, added, "We are looking forward to hosting this

excellent competition and we know the standards will be really high.  Of course we are rightly proud of our excellent

academic record of being the most improved school in South Bristol with 85% of

students gaining 5 A* to C grades.

But here at The Bridge, we are also keen for our

pupils to develop a broad range of capabilities.  This programme allows us to promote cooking

both as a skill and as an enjoyable activity."