The winner of Ormiston Academy Trust’s (OAT) nation-wide ‘bake off’ competition has been announced, following a high-stakes final at Birmingham City’s football stadium, St Andrews.
After hours of effort, Cowes Enterprise College student Manuel Palomo took home second place, just behind Ella Newbury, from Broadland High Ormiston Academy in Norfolk. Ellie Scales, also from Broadland High, took home third place.
Pulse-raising final
Throughout the pulse-raising final, parents, staff, and other students were in attendance to cheer on the competitors and see all the amazing baking creations, with judges Lynn Jones, from OAT, and Sue Walker, from national catering company Elior, crowning the winners.
More than 3,000 students competed
Over the past nine months, more than 3,000 students across 37 of OAT’s academies across England have been competing for the top prize in the Great Ormiston Bake, with the first round being a series of regional bake-off heats to narrow the competition down to the deserving finalists.
Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge helped to launch the competition back in September 2022, and Michelin Star chef Rob Thompson supported the Trust team in selecting the winners for each region.
Bringing students and staff from across their network of academies together
The national baking competition has been organised as a way for the Trust to be able to bring students and staff from across their network of academies together to take part in an exciting competition.
It has also provided the opportunity for the Trust to celebrate the fantastic skills of its young bakers, and hopefully inspire another generation of pastry chefs.
Woods: Our students have really shown a love for baking
Dan Woods, Lead Practitioner for Food and Design and Technology at Ormiston Academies Trust, said,
“Across each of our academies, our students have really shown a love for baking and so we thought it would be great to introduce a Trust-wide initiative that would bring everyone together to celebrate this passion, and encourage our young people to get involved in an activity that was good for their wellbeing.
“Since its launch, it has been so fantastic to see the outpour of support and enthusiasm for the competition from students and staff.
“A massive well done to Ella for her hugely deserved win and to all the students who took part on making some truly exceptional baking creations.”
News shared by Luke on behalf of Cowes Enterprise College. Ed
