Bournemouth student on course to being a top chef

Oak Academy’s Kian Johnson has been crowned the Bournemouth and Poole winner of the Young Rotary Chef competition – going one better than his runner-up spot last year.

And the 14-year-old so impressed judges that he has already been offered a place at the Young Chef’s College, based at Bournemouth and Poole College, and also guaranteed a place at the college to study catering when he leaves school in 2018.

It was a double success for the Oak Academy. Joining Kian on the podium was fellow student Flora Roska who came an impressive third, losing out to second place by just one point.

Executive principal of Oak Academy, Paul Holman, said, “We are incredibly proud of Kian and Flora for their success in the Young Chef Rotary competition. First they had to be selected from our 54 GCSE catering students and then they had to compete against dozens of other talented young chefs from across Bournemouth and Poole.

“Kian will now go on to compete in the regional final and we wish him all the very best, a very talented young man who deserves the recognition he is receiving.”

For the second year in a row Kian will now go on to compete in the regional final of the Young Rotary Chef competition, in bid to win a place in the national final – and in many ways he is already a winner.

The Bournemouth and Poole College’s head chef quipped at the competition, “We are not letting this one get away, we want him here.”

Kian said, “I am so happy, I never thought I would get an opportunity like this. I can’t wait to get stuck in and my catering teacher has given me a chance to shine and a focus in life. “

The regional final of the Young Chef Rotary competition will take place on 4 March in Waterlooville.