Dalkeith Pupil Named Scotland’s Top Hospitality Student

Ashley Glen, a sixth year pupil at Dalkeith High School, Edinburgh, was today (Tuesday 5 February) named Scotland’s Top Hospitality Student and received her award from Michelin star chef, Tom Kitchin.

Described as “having a talent for cooking and an ability to display an excellent range of skills”, Ashley achieved the highest mark for the Intermediate 2 Hospitality Practical Cookery course, beating off strong competition from over 7,000 other pupils across Scotland.

As Scotland’s Top Hospitality Student, Ashley will receive an award of £250 from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). Dalkeith High School will also receive a special £250 meat voucher to purchase beef, lamb or pork for use in classes.

Almost 18,000 pupils from across Scotland benefited from Quality Meat Scotland’s School Meat Voucher Scheme last year. The voucher scheme was introduced to assist young people with their culinary skills and in particular the art of cooking red meat as part of a healthy balanced diet. The initiative, which was developed in recognition of school budget constraints, offers all Scottish secondary schools a voucher worth up to £100 to enable teachers to buy red meat for use in cookery classes.

Qualified dietician and QMS Health and Education Coordinator Jennifer Robertson said: “We are delighted to continue our support of the Intermediate 2 Hospitality Practical Cooking Course which is growing from strength to strength every year.

“It is extremely encouraging to see Scottish children learning about eating a healthy balanced diet and thinking about the many health benefits of foods, like beef, pork and lamb, when they are cooking.”

Graeme Findlay, Scottish Qualification Authority’s Qualifications Manager for Home Economics and Hospitality subjects said: “The number of Scottish secondary school pupils taking certified home economics or hospitality courses every year is increasing by approximately 1000 per year, and each year, the standard of the food they are producing is excellent.

“It is extremely encouraging that a Curriculum for Excellence offers new national qualifications for Hospitality Practical Cookery at levels four and five. The new qualifications have been developed to capture the successful features of the current qualifications, are less prescriptive and provide more opportunities for personalisation and choice.”

Chef Kitchin who presented the award to Ashley said: “I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to Ashley for winning the well-deserved title of Top Hospitality Student for Scotland. After she has finished school, I know Ashley is considering a career in the hospitality sector where she will certainly be able to put her skills to good use.”

David Robertson, principal teacher of home economics at Dalkeith High School, praised Ashley: “Ashley was always confident in the kitchen, self-aware and had a responsible attitude.

“She was a pleasure to have in class and thoroughly enjoyed cooking. I wish her all the best in her sixth year studies.”