Dallam School welcomed Alessandro Perfetto from Michelin-starred SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel in the Lake District, as Year 10 students took part in a special food demonstration and practical cookery session in the school’s newly refurbished food technology room.

During the morning session, Alessandro demonstrated how to prepare fresh filled pasta, including ravioli and tortellini, before 17 Year 10 students recreated their own dishes under his guidance.

The visit showcased Dallam School’s refurbished food technology facility, which has been transformed thanks to the support of The Savoy Educational Trust and the Dallam School Charitable Trust.

The refurbishment was a complete refit of the room, including new workstations, ovens and hobs, and a height-adjustable workstation to support all learners. Dallam School secured a grant of £48,589.65 from The Savoy Educational Trust, while the Dallam School Charitable Trust contributed a further £25,000 to enable the thorough refurbishment.

Dallam students making fresh pasta in the newly refurbished room.

placeholder image — Dallam students making fresh pasta in the newly refurbished room.

The improved facility is already helping to create richer learning opportunities for students. Representatives from Gilpin Hotel first visited Dallam as part of the school’s careers day, which led Alessandro to visit the school to deliver the practical session.

It gave students valuable insight into professional food preparation and the hospitality industry, while also allowing Alessandro to share his own career path and encourage young people to consider careers in hospitality.

Steven Henneberry, headteacher at Dallam School, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn from a highly regarded chef and to experience the standards and skills involved in professional kitchens. We were delighted to showcase our refurbished food technology room, which is already making a real difference to teaching and learning.

“We are very grateful to The Savoy Educational Trust and the Dallam School Charitable Trust for making this investment possible. The new facility is helping us provide high-quality, practical learning experiences and strengthen the link between classroom learning and future careers.”

Alessandro Perfetto led a masterclass for Year 10 students at Dallam.

Alessandro Perfetto said: "I had an excellent experience with the Dallam students in our first cookery demo. There was clear talent and passion for cooking among the students at the school, which is fantastic to see at such a young age. We hope this passion will carry through to a long-lasting partnership and further demonstrations and masterclasses.

"The students and teaching staff were an absolute treat to work alongside, and it was a great experience for me too."

One of the Year 10 participants said: "It was really interesting to learn from a professional chef and to see how the skills we use in school relate to possible careers. It gave me a better idea of what working in hospitality could be like."

The session reflects Dallam School’s commitment to providing students with meaningful, real-world experiences alongside their classroom learning.

The new food technology facility opens Dallam students up to real world learning.

Dallam is a state school for 11 to 19-year-olds, drawing around 1,000 students from 40 local schools, along with more than 50 international boarders.

Its origins trace back to the founding of Heversham Grammar School in 1613. More than 400 years later, Dallam is a popular mixed comprehensive committed to serving its community and learners.