Join us for our Open Evening at Leiths on Thursday 5th February 2026, 6:30–8:30pm, and discover how the Culinary Diploma can launch your career in food.
Join us for our Open Evening at Leiths on Thursday 5th February 2026, 6:30–8:30pm, and discover how the Culinary Diploma can launch your career in food.
The Culinary Diploma Class of 2025 celebrated their graduation on Monday 7th July at Kindred in Hammersmith, after completing their notoriously challenging final practical exam.
Michael Cropp, Director of Higher Education & Principal at Leiths Education, congratulated students on ‘a fantastic achievement and one you should all be immensely proud of.’
‘Think back to the early days of a vegetable stir-fry, perhaps scrambled eggs or trying to create some rope piping on top of a fish pie. Now think about these last few weeks, assiette of rabbit and the finesse of your Gâteau Opéra.’
Several prizes were awarded to students with outstanding results. Carla Maddison received the highest mark in the final practical exam, while Georgia Irving achieved the highest theory mark with 96.6%. Scoring 100% on her WSET exams, Florence Byrne won the Wine Student of the Year award, sponsored by Louis Latour, which includes a trip to their vineyards in Burgundy, with David Hesketh from Louis Latour presenting the award.
Hollie Plummer received the Teachers’ Award, recognising student progress throughout the course. ‘I’m absolutely chuffed to win it,’ she said.
‘I would 100% recommend Leiths. The whole environment, the people, the teachers, the skills you learn. It’s so worth it. Where I was in September compared to where I am now are miles and miles apart.’
The coveted Student of the Year award, sponsored by I&P Olive Oils, went to Sacha Kelly, which includes a trip to Italy to visit their olive groves, with Paolo Borzatta, founder of I&P, presenting the award. Headteacher Lou Kissane praised Sacha’s ‘unbelievable dedication to studying at Leiths’.
Lisa Markwell, Editor of The Telegraph Magazine and Culinary Diploma graduate, shared some inspirational words with the students.
‘Food is about passion, it’s about society, it’s about history, it’s about health, it’s about fashion. You’ve learnt something that not everyone has and it will always impress people. Always.’
Lou Kissane spoke to the students after her first academic year as Headteacher. She enthused: ‘your futures are extremely bright.’ Later in the day, Lou told the Leiths Letter ‘it’s been absolutely incredible teaching this cohort. I know you think we say this every year, and we probably do. But that’s because they’ve given us everything. We’ve given them everything we possibly can. It’s a real lifelong skill no one can take away from them, so congratulations to all of them.’
