Cookery at Bruern

Cooking at Bruern Abbey forms an integral part of school life, reflecting our belief that education should nurture practical skills, confidence, and creativity alongside academic achievement. The school’s new purpose-built teaching kitchen at the Senior School provides a professional yet welcoming space in which pupils learn not only to cook, but to understand food, nutrition, and the joy of sharing a meal together.

The Teaching Kitchen

Opened by Dame Prue Leith in 2025, the kitchen has been designed to inspire. At its heart stands a four-metre-long table where pupils gather to share and enjoy the dishes they have prepared – reinforcing the social and communal nature of food. In the kitchen, there are eight fully equipped cookery stations, each designed for paired work, and a central demonstration area where practical skills and techniques are taught.

A well-curated cookbook library adds another dimension to the space, encouraging pupils to explore food writing, culinary history, and contemporary gastronomy. From classic texts to modern recipe collections, the shelves invite curiosity and independent learning.

The new teaching at Bruern Abbey School is beautiful. It's really well designed and kitted out like a professional kitchen - it's fantastic. And what's the best thing about it is every child in the school [...] gets to roll up their sleeves and cook real food. Dame Prue Leith DBE DL

Partnership with Leiths School of Food and Wine

Bruern Abbey is proud to be a Leiths Education Partner School, delivering the Leiths Certificate in Culinary Skills (CTH Level 2) as part of our curriculum. This nationally recognised qualification provides pupils with a strong foundation in professional cookery – from knife skills and sauces to pastry, bread, and presentation – and equips them with valuable life skills whether they pursue hospitality careers or simply a lifelong love of food.

Leiths Level 2 – Macaroni Cheese Recipe

Cooking in the Curriculum

Cooking is taught to all pupils in the Third Form (Year 9) as a timetabled subject, with a double period each week devoted to practical and theoretical work. Pupils in the Fourth and Fifth Forms may then choose Cookery as an option subject, enjoying three lessons per week in preparation for their Leiths qualification.

Younger pupils from the Prep School also visit regularly for taster sessions and cookery days, developing confidence and independence in a setting that encourages experimentation and enjoyment.

Beyond the Classroom

At Bruern, food is more than a subject, it is part of the school’s culture. Whether baking bread, preparing a seasonal supper, or creating dishes for visiting guests, pupils experience the satisfaction of working collaboratively, tasting, and learning together. Cooking at Bruern Abbey celebrates skill, creativity, and community in equal measure.