Gifted and talented food technology students experience lunch at Sidmouth’s Belmont Hotel

CATERING students from The King’s School, Ottery St Mary, could be found in the lounge of the Belmont Hotel, Sidmouth, on Tuesday, July 5.

They were waiting expectantly to be treated to silver service as part of their school catering course, writes Rebecca Thorne.

Bertie Skinner, 15, said that it was “really amazing” to have this opportunity while Joe Wakefield, also 15, added that it was “a good experience for the future.”

Orders were taken and only minutes later the students were ushered through to the dining room.

Once seated, waiters came round to serve the students their chosen starters.

“It’s fabulous,” commented Zoe Packer, 15, “Really lovely.”

Deborah Capon, Head of Food Technology at King’s School said: “We try to give the students as much real life experience as we can and in Year 10 we run a ‘Restaurant for One Night Only’ project.

“This requires students to work in teams (pitched against each other) and plan a restaurant evening for their parents and teachers.

“This gives them a chance to see first-hand what they talk about in the classroom.

“We are really grateful to the Victoria Belmont for giving our students this fantastic opportunity.”

She said students were lucky enough to speak with Glen Harrison, lead trainer for the management programme run by Concord, which works in collaboration with hotels to train hotel managers.

“This was really insightful and gave the students food for thought. Students follow a two year course in catering WJEC GCSE and look at all aspects of the industry.”

Jan Jaques, gifted and talented coordinator at King’s said: “The five students who went are very able food technology students.”