The Junior Chef Academy is an exciting opportunity for aspiring young cooks to build confidence in the kitchen and develop practical culinary skills. Across ten hands-on sessions, students will learn fundamental techniques, explore a wide range of ingredients, and create dishes they can proudly take home. The programme is designed to introduce young people to the creativity and discipline of professional cookery while having fun and learning in a supportive environment. 

Delivered in association with Exeter College and sponsored by Brakes and Compass Group, students will benefit from expert guidance while learning skills used in professional kitchens. 

The Course 

Over the course of the academy, students will develop a wide range of cooking skills and techniques: 

• Week 1 – Induction, knife skills and soups 

• Week 2 – Bread and pizza 

• Week 3 – Pasta dishes and sauces 

• Week 4 – Plant-based cookery 

• Week 5 – Salads and healthy eating 

• Week 6 – Meat masterclass 

• Week 7 – Poultry 

• Week 8 – Fish dishes 

• Week 9 – Hot and cold desserts 

• Week 10 – The academy culminates in Week 10 with a Graduation event at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, where students will showcase the skills, they have learned throughout the course. This special session celebrates their achievements and marks the completion of their Junior Chef Academy journey.  

The Junior Chef Academy offers a fantastic opportunity for young people who enjoy cooking and want to develop new skills, meet like-minded students, and experience what it’s like to work in a professional kitchen.