Patisserie and Confectionery Diploma Tech Level 3

This course is designed for those who have successfully completed a professional chef qualification at level 2 or have relevant trade experience and want to develop their craft. Alongside your studies, there are a number of enrichment opportunities; including master classes from expert chocolatiers/pastry chefs, mini master class sessions from local pastry chefs and employment opportunities within one of our careers fairs. You will be required to complete industry placement in a professional kitchen focused on pastry or bakery. Support for this is available from our dedicated work placement team.

You will continue to develop the skills learnt from your level 2 programme, by producing technically complex products, artisan bread, laminated pastry, sugar work and more complex desserts. Chocolate work will develop into the use of coloured cocoa butter to enhance the presentation and a greater understanding of tempering will be introduced. As a team we will produce all pastry and dessert products to the highest level for our award-winning taste restaurant dinner service on a rota basis, all of which will provide you with an impressive portfolio of recipes, methods and techniques as you prepare for employment or further study at university.

This course is very much focused on developing your practical skills within the professional kitchen, with an added emphasis on gaining knowledge relating to the catering industry. The practical units are assessed via observations and run alongside the completion of a portfolio. These will encompass written assignments, project work tasks and collated evidence of your knowledge gained throughout the year.

Entry to this course requires one reference and it is desirable that you can demonstrate 90% attendance. You will also need to have a professional cookery level 2 qualification and a GCSE in both English and maths at grade 4 or above. Consideration will also be given to all applicants over the age of 19 who do not hold formal English and maths qualifications.

You could go on to study a level 4 kitchen management programme or a foundation degree in hospitality management and culinary arts. You may also choose to start employment as a pastry chef de partie or in similar positions within good-quality restaurants, caf�, hotels or other catering establishments within the hospitality industry.