Year 11 Food Trip to Bread Ahead Bakery & Borough Market

Year 11 students enjoyed an inspiring and action-packed trip to Bread Ahead Bakery and Borough Market, linking directly to their GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition NEA 2 coursework. The visit focused on research and inspiration for planning and cooking three dishes in three hours, helping students to explore ingredients, techniques and global food influences.

At Borough Market, students investigated a wide range of food commodities and explored how different products could be used within their coursework. They sampled an exciting variety of foods including risotto, triple-cooked chips, brownies, strawberries with chocolate, cheeses, seafood paella, and much more. The market provided excellent exposure to multicultural cuisines, encouraging students to broaden their ideas and consider diverse flavour combinations. Lunch was enjoyed at the vibrant street food stalls, adding to the authentic food experience.

Students also took in local attractions such as the Shard and admired the surrounding art and graffiti, which added to the cultural richness of the day.

The highlight of the trip was a hands-on pizza workshop at Bread Ahead Bakery. Students made grissini breadsticks and Margherita pizzas using fresh yeast and starters, with a strong focus on the scientific functions of ingredients and how they work together. Gluten formation was explored in detail, beginning with a sticky, soft dough which was kneaded until it became smooth, elastic and stretchy. Students particularly enjoyed throwing the dough onto the work surface to further develop the gluten structure.

The bakery teachers shared a wide range of professional techniques, helping students to develop their skills and confidence. Both the grissini and pizzas were baked with polenta, giving a delicious crunch. The breadsticks were finished with olive oil and chilli flakes, while the pizzas were topped with mozzarella, fresh tomato sauce and basil leaves.

We are extremely proud of Year 11, who demonstrated a positive, curious attitude throughout the day. They applied their prior knowledge and cooking skills from school lessons, producing high- quality products to take home and share.

An excellent day full of learning, creativity and fun – a fantastic experience with Bread Ahead Bakery and a valuable boost for NEA 2 preparation.