Two of our students made Thomas Clarkson Academy proud and whipped up some impressive dishes when they took part in the local round of the Rotary Young Chef competition.

GCSE Food Technology students Danielle Crofts and Kayleigh Fisk, who are both in Year 10, took part in the local contest at the College of West Anglia before Christmas.

They created their own menus for a three course meal and cooked their dishes within a set time. Danielle and Kayleigh were competing against students from Marshland High School and Wisbech Grammar School.

For her three courses, Danielle made a tomato and herb soup, chicken gumbo and banoffee cheesecake. Kayleigh made mushroom parcels, which were filled with cheese and wrapped in Parma ham, salmon with roasted vegetables and new potatoes and a lemon and lime mousse.

Kayleigh was named runner-up on the day. She said: “I chose to an autumn theme for my menu. The judges said that the mushroom parcels were the best part. I was really pleased I was runner-up, I do quite a lot of cooking at home and I am hoping to take part in Young Chef again next year.”