Pupils rise to the challenge by starting bakery
Castle Newnham Bakery was started by GCSE hospitality and catering pupils at the Bedford school which now sells its wares to Mooch Coffee in the town.
Pupil Asi, 15, said it had helped her understand "what it is like to work in the hospitality and catering industry", and she hopes to open her own bakery.
Mat Dunkley, a partner at the shop, said it received two tray bakes and three loaves every week and treated the pupils "like any other supplier".
The collaboration came about when Martin Jenkins, another partner at the shop, attended his son's sports day at Castle Newnham School.
He purchased some sweet treats at a stall run by the catering pupils and was so impressed with the quality that he requested an order.
Now, every Thursday, the pupils bake a variety of cakes after school, ranging from lemon drizzle and jam and coconut to chocolate slices and old school cake.
They work in the school kitchen to comply with health and hygiene laws and regulations.
They also care for a sourdough starter named "Kitty".
The finished food is collected on Friday morning and taken to the store.
Chloe, 14, said: "Baking for Mooch Coffee is my favourite part of the week.
"I love the experience of working in the industrial kitchen and using the extra large equipment to bake the cakes each week."
Precious, 15, said: "I love visiting the coffee shop at the weekend and seeing our cakes being sold to the local community."
Asi said: "I would love to own a bakery when I am older, so this is the perfect experience."
Mr Dunkley said: "It's just brilliant, we don't treat them any differently because they're children, we treat them like any other supplier.
"I'm proud of the partnership.
"We're paying for a service and it gives pupils the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in hospitality, completing the full catering cycle by also supporting the community."
He said the shop was also planning to do more including collaborating with the school's performing arts department to host intimate acoustic music evenings to further enrich "the pupils' learning journey".
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