Inspiring the Next Generation: Navy Chefs Leads Hands-On Cooking Workshop for Year 10 Students

Year 10 students were treated to a unique and exciting experience last week as three professional navy chefs led a cooking workshop designed to inspire creativity, teamwork, and practical life skills in the kitchen.

The visiting chefs,  shared stories from life at sea, explaining how meals are planned, prepared, and served to large crews while working in fast-paced and sometimes challenging conditions.

During the hands-on workshop, students worked in small teams to prepare a selection of dishes under the chef’s guidance. They practiced key culinary techniques including knife skills, seasoning, food presentation, and maintaining kitchen hygiene—skills that are essential both in professional kitchens and at home.

The navy chefs emphasised the importance of discipline, organisation, and teamwork, explaining how these qualities are just as important in the kitchen as they are at sea. Students quickly discovered that clear communication and cooperation were key to successfully completing their dishes.

The highlight of the session came when students proudly presented their finished meals. The chefs offered feedback and encouragement, praising the students’ creativity and willingness to try new techniques.

By connecting classroom learning with professional expertise, students were able to gain insight into potential career paths while developing practical skills.

The event was a memorable and inspiring experience for everyone involved. With aprons on and confidence growing, Year 10 students left the workshop not only with new cooking skills, but also with a taste of what it means to work as part of a team in a professional kitchen

We very much hope to welcome the Navy chefs back to St John’s in the future for more exciting workshops.