Food creativity soared as KS3 and KS4 students embarked on a half term journey, learning about kitchen safety, exploring the origins of ingredients, and cooking a huge variety of dishes, from fresh pasta to meringue pies.

As we reflect on our Food lessons this half-term, we’re thrilled to share the exciting adventures our students have had in the kitchen. From learning about kitchen safety to exploring the origins of ingredients, our KS3 and KS4 students have been cooking up a storm and expanding their skills.

In Year 7, our students embarked on a crucial aspect of cooking: kitchen safety. They delved into the fundamentals of handling kitchen appliances, particularly the grill and hob, ensuring they can cook delicious food while keeping safe. Year 8 explored the World of Cereals. They learned about the cultivation of wheat and the process of producing flour. Armed with this knowledge, they experimented with various flour-based dishes, from crafting delectable cheese sauces to baking blueberry muffins and pizza dough. For Year 9, it was all about protein and food provenance. We looked in to the world of proteins, understanding their significance in cooking. Moreover, they explored the origins of ingredients, enriching their understanding of food provenance.

Across all year groups, the food room buzzed with enthusiasm as students crafted delicious dishes such as fresh soup, pasta bakes, apple cakes, sweet and sour chicken, lemon meringue pies and Swiss rolls.

We have been immensely impressed by the dedication our students have shown in the kitchen. Especially as they continue to gain essential life skills, including teamwork, problem-solving, and adapting dishes to suit their own needs and taste. They have really challenged and stretched themselves and we are very proud of what they have all achieved.

A new course for the County Cross Country competition

On Saturday 3rd February 2024, Miss Cameron took a selection of pupils to attend and represent Bishop’s at the Hertfordshire County Cross Country competition at Westminster Lodge in St Albans. The weather conditions were very good with lots of sunshine and a little bit of a cold breeze to make for great running conditions. This was a new course this year (a bit of a last minute adjustment directed from the Council) with significantly more uphill sections which made it a little trickier for athletes to pace themselves as they had done in the previous years.

The girls who had been selected to compete at County standard were picked due to their excellent performances in the District competition back in November where pupils finished in the top 10 of their age groups. They were:

Year 7 – Dot C, Erin McF and Mia O (all 7Pa) Year 8 – Rose J (8Se) and Isobel L (8Ha) Year 9 – Zahra L (9Se) and Ashley W (9Ha) Year 10 Sophie B, Evie D (both 10Se) and Cecile R (10Au) and Year 13 pupil – Amelie H.

There were a number of other pupils selected but unable to compete due to illness or other sporting commitments – Katie C (7Se) Eva M (7Ha), Stephanie B (8Au), Miruna B (9Fr), Chloe A (11Ha), Lucy C and Tiana R (both 11Pa)

Amelie H in Year 13 was our stand out performer of the day – finishing in the top 12 in the County and therefore securing a place as a reserve in the Hertfordshire team for this year. A fantastic achievement and one which Amelie has shown enormous determination to her training, committing to many hours of practice to put in her best performance of the season so far. We wait to hear if Amelie will travel and be part of the team for the upcoming English Schools Cross Country Championships to represent Hertfordshire. Well done Amelie!

All of our pupils ran incredibly well and were, as always, a credit to our BHGS community. A brilliant effort – well done everyone!