Tag Archives: Home Economics

Junior Mastercook

180 second year pupils have taken part in the initial rounds of the competition run by the Home Economics department as part of the Curriculum for Excellence.  

Pupils took part in the ‘Dine in with Me Challenge’ where they were asked to come up with a main course that showed off their culinary flair in the kitchen whilst encouraging home cooking and the use of fresh Scottish ingredients.  Pupils competed in class heats initially whereby the top 15 dishes were selected for the final.  Ross Morrison (head chef) at the Lairds House in Blairgowrie worked with the final 15 pupils to give them advice on how to enhance their dishes for the final. 

Our winner was Charlotte with her dish Rack of Lamb with Asparagus Parcels and Dauphinoise.  Well done to her!

Mrs Smith (Principal teacher of Home Economics) said “The whole experience fits in well with promoting ‘Wider Achievement’ in our curriculum. I am really impressed with the pupils, it was a difficult decision to select the top 15 pupils given the high standard.”

The judges were Mr Bill McNicol (Executive Head Chef, Huntingtower Hotel, Perth), Mr David Cochrane (Head Chef, Dalmore Inn and Restaurant) and Kevin Reid – RAF chef, Edinburgh.  Bill told us “It is fantastic to see such enthusiasm and talent in our youngsters and I hope to see some of them pursuing a career in hospitality.”

Tayside Contracts awarded a trophy for the Healthiest Dish on the day to link in with promoting Healthier food choices.  The Rotary Club of Blairgowrie  have donated specially embroidered chefs whites and hats for all the finalists and Kenneth Allan, TA HW Irvines butchers  has sponsored a visit to Nick Nairn cook school for winner. 

Other sponsors of prizes are RAF Careers Dundee ,HE Departments Gala Dinner fund, Robert Smith Contractors and Mrs Lynn Smith,  Tescos Stores and the Local co-operative store.

Thanks to everyone involved .

Perthshire school demonstrates how skills give pupils the edge

Last week Blairgowrie High School provided the inspiration for a group of Indian education specialists hoping to mirror Scotland’s success in preparing young people for the world of work.

The delegates were on a fact-finding mission to witness first-hand how the practical and vocational skills pupils develop in the classroom can be put to use in the workplace.

The visit, organised by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and the National Accreditation Board for Education and Training in India (NABET), took in pupil demonstrations in the purpose built teaching kitchen and restaurant at Blairgowrie High School. Delegates enjoyed a marvellous lunch prepared by pupils and assisted by Willie Little of Little’s restaurant in Blairgowrie – one of the school’s business partners.  The school has many business partners linked to the success of developing hospitality skills of young people including Love to Eat and ELM associates (event organisation), who also had representatives at the lunch.

The visitors from India were on a week-long tour of Scotland taking in other examples of how young people’s skills and talents are identified and enhanced including a focus on the construction industry, a visit to the site of the new South Glasgow Hospital and an overview of hair and beauty training before five of the delegation heads to Dundee to complete a course on becoming master-trainers, enabling them to pass on coaching and development skills to other teachers once they return to their schools in India.

Lynn Smith, Principal Teacher of Home Economics at Blairgowrie High School, said: “Skills for work courses focus on developing generic employability skills that young people need to succeed in the work place. They are flexible enough to allow us to tailor what we offer to our pupils, allowing us to develop good relationships with local employers and they have definitely contributed to our success in ensuring our pupils end up in positive destinations – either going on to further or higher education, training or employment.”