YOUNG baker Courtney King came out on top yesterday when she won the Bradon Forest School Bake-Off.

The 12-year-old was one of the four finalists competing in the competition which started with 16 pupils from years 7 to 10 four weeks ago.

In the same week that Sara Jones, Head of Food Technology, was teaching year 10 students how to make lemon meringue pies, Courtney beat all the older bakers to win the Bake-Off with the same cakes.

She said: “I didn't want to do anything too simple or too hard. I’m quite surprised I got to the final.”

Every week a Star Baker was selected, and two of these were in the final.

Sara said: “They’ve been amazing, they’ve done really well. They should all be really proud of themselves. Standards have been really, really high.”

Each week students tried their hands at different baked delights, from brownies to cup cakes to two-tiered sponges, which were then judged by teachers Kate Gilbert, Alison Stimson and Ute Lappin.

Alison, who teaches drama, said: “There’s been an exceptionally high standard. I’m very surprised, it’s better than you can buy in the shop. It’s been very tasty and an absolute pleasure.”

Among the other finalists, 15-year-old Natasha Brown made a double-tiered pavlova with raspberries and strawberries.

She said: “I‘m really surprised I got to the final actually because I thought I would be out in the last round. Because It’s so hot the cream has started to melt but hopefully it will still taste nice.”

Year 8 student Genevieve Thorpe made Viennese biscuits with home made chocolate ganache and golden sprinkles. She said: “I’ve done it before a few times and I think they taste pretty good. I like baking quite a lot which is why I entered the competition.”

Thirteen-year-old Ocsian Salter baked a lemon drizzle cake from her grandmother’s recipe. She said: “I was totally stuck for ideas but my grandmother made it and I totally loved it so I decided to do that.

“I absolutely love baking and my friend Becca joined in as well. I did not believe I’d be in the final but I’m really happy about it.”

Coun Jacqui Lay (Con, Purton and Braydon) was one of the guest judges who turned up to the final. She said: “I’m amazed because they are obviously very high quality and it’s the standard you’d expect to find at a posh dinner party.

“I expect they’ll be on Come Dine With Me next. The pavlova certainly surpasses the one that I can make.”