Steals, Skills and Showstoppers at Year 4 MasterCook
Our Year 4 MasterCook Competition was a wonderful celebration of our pupils’ culinary talent and growing confidence in the kitchen. A tempting array of delicious dishes were presented to a judging panel comprising of Beacon staff and our Head of Cooking and Nutrition / IAPS Advisor, Kim Rowland.
As the youngest year group to take part in MasterCook this year, our Year 4 pupils were each asked to prepare their selected dish just once. To ensure every competitor had the opportunity to shine, the competition was divided into three separate cook-offs held across the school day.
Following weeks of dedicated practice at home, our young chefs arrived well prepared and eager to impress. Each participant was given 30 minutes to organise their ingredients and set up their stations, followed by one hour to cook and plate up their dish.
Once the cooking was complete, the young cooks proudly presented their creations to the judges, who assessed each dish based on skill, presentation, flavour and organisation.
The standard of cooking was exceptionally high, making the adjudication process incredibly difficult. From perfectly cooked steaks and balanced bursts of flavour, to impressive presentation and attention to detail, the judges were thoroughly impressed by the maturity and creativity shown by all competitors.
The cuisine was outstanding, particularly at such a young age. Deciding upon the final rankings proved a real challenge. After much deliberation, however, the judges reached their decision and were delighted to announce the Year 4 MasterCook 2026 winners:
- First Place: Dhruv V who made paneer curry with naan and onion pickles
- Second Place: Thomas B who made spinach and ricotta cannelloni with salad
- Third Place: Charlie R who made a fluffy banana pancake stack
Congratulations to all pupils who took part in this year’s competition. We look forward to seeing this year group continue to develop their culinary skills in the years ahead.
