The highly-anticipated CLF Big Bake Off final returned this week – and it was the highest-calibre competition yet.
The contest is one of the trust’s Big events, which unite staff and students in friendly competition and collaboration in sport, the arts and other disciplines.
After intense baking heats across CLF regions, the top bakers from secondary and primary schools convened at the brand new Winterstoke Hundred Academy in Weston-super-Mare for the ultimate showdown. The standard of baking reached unprecedented heights, with contestants demonstrating exceptional skill and creativity.
Secondary students were tasked with baking a cake at home and then challenged during the final to create their own design on the theme of ‘Belonging’, using a variety of ingredients and skills.
Meanwhile, primary pupils crafted jam tarts with intricate designs, making judging a formidable task for the panel.
The full line-up of finalists this year were Uphill Village Academy, Winterstoke Hundred Academy, Woodlands Academy, Bristol Metropolitan Academy, Castle Primary School, Monkton Wood Academy, Brooke Academy, Queen Margaret Primary School, Tewkesbury Academy, John Cabot Academy and Wallscourt Farm Academy and they aspired to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winners, when Uphill Primary Academy scooped the primary prize, and Lime Hills Academy emerged victorious from the secondary contest.
With the stage set and mixing bowls at the ready, it was Liliana and Modaser from Wallscourt Farm Academy who emerged victorious in the primary event while Finley and Thalia from John Cabot Academy (pictured top) claimed the top spot in the secondary event, earning the coveted title of CLF’s best bakers 2024. The winners were decided by an expert judging panel that included Kieran Lenihan, Executive Head Chef at Wellington School, who moved into the role after 23 years in restaurants and hotels. Kieran’s career has seen him work under top chefs such as Somerset’s Michelin-starred Micheal Canes, while he also held the role of head chef at Marco Pierre White’s Steak House Bar & Grill in Bristol. And CLF CEO Steve Taylor, a seasoned veteran of all Bake-Off finals, lent his expert opinion to the mix.
Kate Richardson, CLF Education Director, said: “This year, as our trust has grown, we organised our CLF Big Bake competition with both heats and finals – our students have risen to the challenge brilliantly and the standard has been higher than ever. Well done to all who participated; and special thanks to our CLF Institute team for organising our bake, and to our celebrity judge, Kieran Lenihan.”
