Students from Witchford Village College were given the exciting opportunity to experience life in a professional kitchen as they took part in a special Novus Restaurant takeover at the College of West Anglia (CWA). Designed to inspire budding hospitality and catering students, the event offered a hands-on introduction to the fast-paced environment of a real working kitchen and restaurant.
Throughout the afternoon, students worked in CWA’s industry standard kitchens, where they prepared a three-course menu under the guidance of experienced catering lecturers and professional chefs. The session allowed them to explore new ingredients, develop technical skills, and gain confidence in both cooking and front-of-house tasks.
The 2025 School Takeover Menu challenged students to create a variety of mouthwatering dishes including Chicken Liver Pate with Red Onion Marmalade and Toasted Brioche, Sweet Potato, Chilli and Coconut Soup, Herb Crusted Pollock with Chickpea Fricassee, Rosemary and Lamb Burger with Glazed Goats Cheese and Truffle Fries, Sticky Toffee Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream, Eton Mess with Chambord Strawberries, and Lemon Curd Profiterole with Meringue Shard.
Student, Laila Omar said, “I found this to be an eye-opening experience since I’ve learnt how much effort and work goes on behind the scenes at a restaurant to make sure the customer leaves feeling happy and satisfied. I think that everyone interested in this type of job should come to the college and see the opportunities that students have. I enjoyed learning how to set tables and cleaning cutlery to a professional standard.’
Lola Carey who is also a student at Witchford Village College said ‘It was a great experience and I had so much fun. I really enjoyed learning how to make the food and talking to the students and staff. It is a really good opportunity to learn about kitchen environments, and I wish more schools did this.’
Juliet Martin, Head of Careers at Witchford College said ‘Hospitality & Catering students had a unique opportunity to access an industrial kitchen and prepare meals for their parents at the College of West Anglia. Not only does this enhance their skills for the qualification they are taking but allows them to understand aspects of a professional kitchen. Students were also given a thorough run down of how to lay a table and the other aspects of the hospitality side. The food was superb, and our students were supported by some amazing College of West Anglia students.’
In the evening, the students welcomed family members to dine at Novus Restaurant, taking full responsibility for service, presentation and guest experience. This allowed them to showcase the dishes they had created, while giving their families a unique insight into the opportunities available within hospitality and catering at CWA.
The Novus Takeover programme continues to strengthen links between local schools and the College of West Anglia, helping young people gain valuable experience and explore future careers in hospitality, catering and the wider food industry.