Level 2 Patisserie and Confectionery Course in Leicester – Leicester College Freemen’s Park Campus – Full-time

CostAnnual Tuition Fee: GBP2583.00. Material Fee: GBP150.00. Resident Fee: GBP30.00. Additional costs may apply and concessions may be available. Please click on GO TO COURSE or call 0116 224 2240 or email [email protected] for more information.
Duration1 year
LevelLevel 2
DeliveryClassroom based
Start7 Sep 2026
Study modeFull-time
AttendanceDaytime
Awarding bodyCTH

About this course

Level 2 Diploma Patisserie and Confectionery Skills Course in Leicester. Classes run full-time at Leicester College Freemen's Park Campus, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. The course runs for one year. You'll start with the fundamentals, including pastry, bread, and meringue, then move into enriched doughs, egg-based tarts, complex desserts, and chocolate work including tempering. The course includes 36 hours of work experience in a professional kitchen setting. You'll also produce pastry and dessert products for the college's Taste restaurant.

Who this course is for

This course is for students who intend to start a career as a professional pastry chef. The course will allow for the development of basic pastry skills but will progress quickly into the more technical aspects of the trade. There will be a focus placed on developing an understanding of professional techniques so as to support progression onto a higher course in college or into a pastry-focused kitchen at a junior level.

As part of the course requirements, you'll engage in a 36-hour work experience program aimed at honing essential employability skills and preparing you for the next phase of your career journey (scheduled between October and May of the following year). Our dedicated work placement team is available to provide support throughout this process. Additionally, you'll take part in activities geared towards personal development, fostering character growth, and building confidence essential for thriving in both personal and professional fields. For individuals aged 16-19, these activities, along with the work experience program, are scheduled into your timetable, with the option to participate in supplementary activities. For other age groups, activities will be tailored to meet specific needs and requirements.

Entry requirements

For admission to this course, applicants must provide at least one reference. Additionally, a minimum of 90% attendance is preferred. A grade 3 or above in both GCSE English and maths is mandatory. However, applicants over the age of 19 without formal English and maths qualifications will be considered.

For candidates aged 16-18, enrolment will be in a study program that involves retaking GCSEs or pursuing Functional Skills in English and maths if a grade 4 or higher has not been attained.

What you will learn

  • You'll make homemade pastry, basic bread, and meringue from scratch.
  • You'll work with enriched doughs and egg-based tarts.
  • You'll produce complex desserts using professional techniques.
  • You'll learn chocolate work, including tempering and making petit fours.
  • You'll prepare pastry and dessert products to restaurant standard.
  • You'll develop employability skills through a 36-hour work placement.

How you will learn

You'll learn through hands-on practical sessions in a professional kitchen environment. Classes are classroom and kitchen based, full-time during the day. You'll produce dishes for the college's Taste restaurant as part of your training. A 36-hour work experience placement is built into the timetable between October and May. Assessment is through practical work and coursework completed throughout the year.

What you will need to bring

The centre will provide most materials. Leicester College Freemen's Park Campus will confirm anything else you need before you start. A material fee of £150 applies, which is likely to cover specialist ingredients and equipment used during the course.

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Commis pastry chef, entry-level role in a professional kitchen
  • Pastry chef, producing desserts and baked goods in restaurants
  • Bakery assistant, supporting production in a commercial bakery
  • Confectionery maker, creating chocolates and sweet products
  • Kitchen assistant, supporting chefs across a range of dishes
  • Café or patisserie assistant, front-of-house and production work

What you could study next

  • Level 3 Diploma in Patisserie and Confectionery, the natural next step for those wanting to develop more advanced skills and move into senior kitchen roles.
  • Level 3 Professional Cookery Diploma, which broadens your skills across the full kitchen and supports progression to chef de partie level.
  • Apprenticeship in Commis Chef or Pastry Chef, combining paid work with structured training in a professional kitchen.