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Royal Navy challenges Ripon pupils to cook-off competition

Tuesday, 22 April 2025 08:30

Members of the Royal Navy Catering Services visited Ripon Grammar School.

Ripon Grammar students were challenged to a cooking competition by the Royal Navy last week.

Year 10 food and nutrition students were divided into four teams and handed boxes of ingredients by serving members of the Royal Navy Catering Services.

Cooking against the clock, they were asked to create a main course and dessert, with each team handed a mystery selection of special ingredients to enable them to make their dish stand out from the others.

Students had one hour to present their finished dishes during the interactive MasterChef-style lesson.

The contest formed just one part of the day, which saw the Navy representatives outline the varied career paths on offer to school leavers interested in joining the UK’s naval force, with roles including nursing, engineering and working on aircraft and submarines.

The teenagers also got to find out about life in Royal Navy catering, as the Navy cooks, Eliot Dunk and Michael Wiggins spoke about service life and provided an insight into the Navy’s educational, sporting and social opportunities.

Head of food and nutrition, Louise Solden, said the session was “hugely enjoyable.”

She said:

“Students benefited from hands-on experience of cooking two, high-skill dishes in an exercise that tested their initiative, teamwork, communication and time-keeping skills, something that will help prepare them for their GCSE.

“The time constraints meant they had to focus and work as cohesive teams in order to finish the challenge, and they all performed fantastically.”

RGS head of careers, Bob Walker, added:

“All the students thoroughly enjoyed the experience, learnt new skills working as a team, and produced some great food.

“They also learnt a lot about the Navy and career options within the Navy.”

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