News

We held our very first Harmood School MasterChef Competition where students showcased the incredible culinary talent, creativity. The journey to the final began with a series of in-class heats, where students demonstrated their practical cooking skills by preparing beef koftas, roasted potatoes, and tzatziki. Those who impressed the judges in their class rounds progressed to the semi-finals, where they faced an even greater challenge: creating a delicious lamb moussaka from scratch.

Following an exceptionally high standard of cooking throughout the competition, three students earned their place in the Grand Final, Oscar – Year 7, Neveah – Year 9 and Cass – Year 10. The finalists rose to the occasion, producing an impressive two-course menu worthy of a professional kitchen. Their main course consisted of roasted cod loin served with minted mashed peas, samphire, and roasted vine tomatoes, followed by a beautifully presented lemon posset for dessert. 

We were delighted to welcome two guest judges from the food industry: a professional chef from a local restaurant and the manager of Morrisons. Both judges were incredibly impressed by the finalists' presentation, technical skills, quality of cooking, and the outstanding flavours of their dishes. They commented on the professionalism shown by all three students and praised the exceptionally high standard of the competition. With such closely matched finalists, choosing an overall winner proved to be an extremely difficult task. 

After careful deliberation, the judges announced Neveah (Year 9) as the Harmood School MasterChef Champion 2026. Neveah secured the title by just two points, narrowly edging out Oscar and Cass after a fantastic final. Congratulations to all of our finalists and everyone who took part in this year's competition. Every student should be proud of the enthusiasm, resilience, and culinary skills they demonstrated throughout the event. We look forward to seeing what next year's competition will bring! 

Jon Beck 

Personal Development & VOC Lead