LACA names 2 wildcards for School Chef of the Year national final
Ten SCOTY regional final winners automatically qualified for the national final, which is taking place at the LACA Main Event. Two wildcard chefs have been selected to join them from the chefs who finished as runners-up in their heat.
The LACA School Chef of the Year 2025 competition, is sponsored by Bisto from Premier Foods. Register for your free ticket to the LACA School Food Show to watch the national final.
Erin Ward from Holmer Green School (Impact Food Group) finished in second place at the East of England SCOTY regional final. Her main course was pork bao bun, spring onion puree and rainbow 'slaw. For dessert she created sweet nacho chips, lime mousse, fruit salsa.
Pharncote-Rowe from Ponteland School (Pele Trust) was the runner-up in the Scotland and North East SCOTY regional final. His main course was chicken ballotine served with a creamy sauce, potato, apples and fine beans, butternut squash puree. For dessert he produced a French classic - rich, sweet batter with soft pear pieces served with ice cream.
At the national final the winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize, the 2025 LACA School Chef of the Year trophy and an invitation to a calendar of catering industry events. The national second and third place winners will receive £500 and £300 respectively.
Last year’s overall winner Jennifer Brown finished as the runner-up in the South West regional heat but went on to lift the trophy. The full list of SCOTY finalists are:
East Midlands
- Nottinghamshire County Council - Charlotte Boulton, Northfield Junior School
East of England
- Autism Anglia - Aron Jordan, Doucecroft School
East of England - wildcard
- Impact Food Group - Erin Ward, Holmer Green School
London
- Impact Food Group - Asmaa Abdelrhman, St Anne's Catholic High School for Girls
North East & Scotland
- Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust - Ben Finn, St Leonards Comprehensive School
North East & Scotland - wildcard
- Pele Trust - Malachy Pharncote-Rowe, Ponteland School
North West
- Bury Metropolitan Borough Council - Steven Rhodes-Heaton, Elton High School
South East
- Impact Food Group - Mark Kent, Norton Knatchbull
South West
- Aspens Catering - Ryan King, Sir Thomas Rich
Wales
- Chartwells - Joanne Cox, Ysgol Y Craig
West Midlands
- Telford & Wrekin Council - Michael Tafft, Telford Langley Secondary School
Yorkshire and Humberside
- Nottinghamshire County Council - Jennifer Haigh, Misson Primary School