PASTRY chefs in the making at The Ridgeway School impressed judges from Waitrose with their designs for a new product.

Sarah Jackson, of Waitrose, visited the school on Friday to talk to Year 9 students about food preparation and making meals on a budget, as well as to judge their entries for a competition that has been running at the school in the lead up to Christmas.

The students were challenged to design a mince pie of savoury pastry after learning about pastry in their class.

Rosie Cairns, a technology teacher at the school, said; “The students had some superb and innovative ideas and the judge from Waitrose were very impressed with what they came up with.

“She was so impressed she said to one student that their design for a savoury cheese penguin biscuit might be on the shelves next Christmas.

“She had come in to talk to Year 9 students about Waitrose and John Lewis and it was interesting to hear about that side of the business too.

“She also talked about creating meals on a budget and different scenarios and events and how to prepare for them, for example a birthday party where some people have food allergies.

“It was a really interesting discussion and it was very thought provoking too,which was good for the students.”