Level 7 Advanced Certificate of Professional Development at Queen’s College, Taunton

Ten days (30 recipes) ‘independent learning’ practical cooking at home

The 30 Leiths recipes are drawn from the full range of culinary skills required to deliver GCSE Food Preparation & Nutrition and equivalent Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications. Each recipe is supported by written notes and a cookalong video from a Leiths chef teacher via the Leiths Education Portal. You’ll document your progress through photographs and written evaluations, uploaded as evidence. 

Budget approximately £300 for ingredients across the full course of ‘at-home’ recipes. Recipes make multiple portions, and many draw on store cupboard staples. 

A selection of recipes from the course 

• Endive, Pear and Pecan Salad with Vegan Mayo 

• Roast Red Pepper and Manchego Bread 

• Crispy Chicken with Dijon Sauce 

• Sea Bream with Fennel and Orange Salad 

• Cacio e Pepe Choux Buns 

• Twice-baked Soufflé with Bitter Leaves 

• Pavlovas with Whipped Cream 

• Victoria Sandwich 

• Pappardelle with Creamy Mushroom Sauce 

• Pizza Bianca 

Ten in person subject specialist skills days

Each day will comprise a morning ‘theory session’ and an afternoon hands on ‘practical skills session’ delivered by the Head of Faculty of Art, Design and Food at Queen’s College, Taunton. All ingredients, supporting teaching and learning notes are provided.

The theory sessions cover: 

• Designing a food curriculum and integrating food across the wider school 

• Setting up and managing a food department, including budgets, layout and risk 

• Food safety, health and safety systems and preparing for inspections 

• Non-Exam Assessments (NEAs): how to plan, deliver, mark and moderate 

• Preparing for a food teaching interview and micro-teaching task 

Leiths Education’s practical sessions put that thinking to work in the kitchen: 

• The art of demonstration in a food lesson 

• How to build a cost-effective, curriculum-aligned scheme of work 

• Setting up a food room for a practical lesson 

• Presentation and plating as an assessed skill 

• The micro-teaching interview task 

Students must have attendance of ≥80% of the in-person sessions to be eligible for the Advanced Certificate.

Intensive Cohort – Ten in-person sessions delivered across two full-time weeks, scheduled during school holiday periods. 

Intensive Cohort 3 (Queen’s College, Taunton)

Monday 15 – Friday 19 February 2027

Monday 5 April – Friday 9 April 2027

• Eligibility to study in the UK
• Possess a GCSE Grade 4 (equivalent to C grade) or above in English OR experience of academic (or extended) writing
• A completed application form including a CV and brief explanation of reason for applying
• Strong experience in food, in education or both 

No undergraduate degree is required. Our admissions team looks at every application individually and will speak with you personally before a decision is made. If you’re not sure whether your background qualifies, get in touch.

• In-person micro-teaching interview task
• 2500-word written assessment and literary review

Students must also complete all 30 at-home cookery course lessons and complete a Leiths Level 2 Food Safety certificate. 

Apply for a grant? 

https://aset.org.uk/individual-awards/

The All Saints Educational Trust (ASET) give Individual awards to UK trainee and practising Religious Education and Home Economics (including Food and Textiles) subject teachers, support teacher education and help teachers improve their expertise through professional development.  In short, to help people become teachers, better teachers or to encourage them to stay in the profession.

ASET support:

• Trainee teachers proposing to study and teach Religious Education or Home Economics (including food and textiles) education or equivalent
• Trainee teacher applications must lead to qualified teacher status, certification or equivalent qualification from a UK higher education institution or similar accrediting authority
• Practising teacher applications must focus on continuing professional development, or postgraduate research that improves teaching and is supervised by a UK higher education institution or similar accrediting authority

There are two opportunities to apply for the year 2026-27 courses:

For teacher trainee applicants who have already been accepted on a University or equivalent course

• Round 2 applications open June 2026 and close 5pm, 1 September 2026
• You should begin the application process in good time to complete and confirm it before the closing date of 1 September 2026

For applicants seeking a teaching top up qualification to follow their initial degree, or those seeking a school-based teaching qualification, or those wishing to further their classroom teaching career with additional qualifications or CPD, you can also apply for awards

• These applications open June 2026 and close 5pm, 1 September 2026
• You should begin the application process in good time to complete and confirm it before the closing date

Location

Queen’s College, Trull Road, Taunton, TA1 4QS 

Apply and secure your place

To apply, click ‘Apply now’ at the top of this page to access the application form.

What to bring to the in-person days:

• A notebook and pen/pencils
• A refillable water bottle
• Packed lunch

Allergies and intolerances

We are happy to make adjustments where possible.

Please read our full policy on allergies and dietary restrictions here.