Free Professional Cookery Level 2 Course in St Albans. Classes run at Oaklands College St Albans Campus, full-time during the day. You'll need a minimum of 4 GCSEs at grades 9 to 3, including a grade 4 in maths or English, plus a Level 1 qualification to enrol. The course runs for 36 weeks and covers both theory and hands-on kitchen sessions, including work experience in a restaurant kitchen. Mandatory units include Food Safety, Health and Safety, Knife Care, and Teamwork in Hospitality, alongside optional units covering meat, fish, pastry, desserts, and more.
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 four mandatory units covering Food Safety, Health and Safety, Knife Care and Teamwork in Hospitality. The optional units cover a range of skills based around preparing, cooking and finishing the following products: Meat, Fish, Poultry, Vegetables, Soups, Sauces, Rice, Pasta, Bread, Pastry, Cakes, Sponges, Hot and Cold Desserts.
Entry requirements
A minimum of 4 GCSEs at grade 9 - 3 including a grade 4 in either maths or English and a Level 1 qualification.
What you will learn
You'll apply food safety and health and safety practices in a professional kitchen.
You'll develop knife skills and safe knife handling techniques.
You'll prepare, cook, and finish meat, fish, and poultry dishes.
You'll make soups, sauces, rice, and pasta to professional standards.
You'll produce bread, pastry, cakes, sponges, and hot and cold desserts.
You'll work as part of a hospitality team in a real kitchen environment.
You'll gain work experience in a restaurant kitchen setting.
How you will learn
You'll be assessed through observation of your practical skills during restaurant and kitchen sessions. You'll also sit multiple choice tests covering each unit. Learning combines hands-on skills sessions in a professional kitchen, classroom-based 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
Commis chef: entry-level kitchen role preparing and cooking dishes.
Chef de Partie: running a specific section of a professional kitchen.
Kitchen supervisor: overseeing kitchen staff and daily operations.
Kitchen assistant: supporting chefs in a catering establishment.
Catering assistant: food preparation and service in various settings.
What you could study next
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Professional Cookery (City and Guilds): the next step if you want to work in high-end establishments or take on greater kitchen responsibility. The provider notes the academic demand is higher, with coursework requirements.
Higher education: some learners go on to culinary arts or hospitality management degrees after completing Level 2.
