Exeter students impress judges at Devon FutureChef final

Two students from an Exeter secondary school impressed judges at the Devon FutureChef local final, showcasing their culinary skills at one of the UK’s largest school-based cooking competitions.

Evie and Ruby, both pupils at West Exe School, took part in the Devon heat of the Springboard FutureChef competition, which challenges young people to prepare dishes under time pressure while demonstrating practical cooking ability, organisation and creativity.

At the local final, Evie presented a cheesy vegetable pasta, while Ruby cooked a vegetable curry, with both dishes praised by judges for their flavour and execution. 

The competition forms part of a national programme designed to introduce students to the hospitality industry and help them build confidence and real-world skills.

Springboard FutureChef works with schools across the country, offering pupils the chance to develop cooking techniques, nutritional knowledge and an understanding of careers in food and hospitality, while being assessed by industry professionals.

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West Exe School, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, offers food preparation and nutrition as part of its curriculum, focusing on practical cooking skills alongside food science, healthy eating and meal planning. 

The course is aimed at equipping students with skills for everyday life as well as supporting those interested in pursuing further education or careers in the food sector.

Speaking after the event, Evie and Ruby said: “We really enjoyed the experience, it gave us an opportunity to improve our cooking skills and knowledge.”

Julie Fossey, headteacher at West Exe School, said the students had represented the school well at the competition. 

“Evie and Ruby represented the school brilliantly,” she said. “It’s a joy to see them put their skills into action and live out their love of cooking in a real-world setting.”

The Devon final marked the latest stage of the FutureChef programme, with successful students progressing through local and regional rounds as part of the national competition.