Free Level 1 Food Preparation and Cooking course in St Albans. Classes run at Oaklands College St Albans Campus. You'll need a minimum of 4 GCSEs at grades 1 to 3, or completion of an Entry Level programme. The course runs full-time over 36 weeks. You'll work in a skills kitchen and restaurant kitchen, covering food safety, health and safety, teamwork, and food production across a range of ingredients including fish, meat, poultry, vegetables, and bread products.
Who this course is for
The course is a combination of skills sessions in our state of the art kitchen; class based theory lessons and work experience in our restaurant kitchen. The course has three mandatory units covering Food Safety, Health and Safety and Teamwork in Hospitality. You will also cover food production units covering vegetables, Salad, Fruit, Fish, Meat and Poultry, Sandwiches and Bread products.
Entry requirements
A minimum of 4 GCSEs at grade 3 - 1 or successful completion of an Entry Level programme.
What you will learn
You'll apply food safety and hygiene practices in a commercial kitchen setting.
You'll follow health and safety procedures relevant to hospitality environments.
You'll work as part of a team in a kitchen and restaurant context.
You'll prepare vegetables, salads, and fruit to a basic professional standard.
You'll handle and cook fish, meat, and poultry.
You'll make sandwiches and bread products.
You'll develop practical skills through hands-on kitchen sessions and work experience.
How you will learn
You'll be assessed through observation of your practical skills during restaurant and kitchen sessions. You'll also complete multiple choice tests covering each unit. Learning combines hands-on skills sessions in a kitchen, classroom theory lessons, and work experience in a restaurant kitchen.
What you will need to bring
The centre will provide most materials. Oaklands College St Albans Campus will confirm anything else you need before you start.
Where next
Jobs you could do
Kitchen assistant: entry-level role preparing and supporting food production
Kitchen porter: supporting chefs and maintaining kitchen hygiene
Catering assistant: food preparation in schools, hospitals, or canteens
Waiter or waitress: front-of-house service in restaurants or hotels
Sandwich artist or deli assistant: food preparation in retail or café settings
Hotel kitchen assistant: supporting kitchen teams in hospitality venues
What you could study next
City and Guilds Level 2 NVQ in Professional Cookery: the natural next step if you want to develop your cooking skills further and work toward a skilled kitchen role.
Level 2 Diploma in Hospitality and Catering: broadens your knowledge across front-of-house and kitchen operations.
Level 3 qualifications in Hospitality Management: for those aiming toward supervisory or management roles.
