National Bakery School facts for kids

The National Bakery School is a special place in London, England, where people learn how to bake. It's part of London South Bank University. This school started way back in 1894, making it the oldest bakery school in the whole world!

History

How the Bakery School Started

It all began in 1893. Sir Philip Magnus had a great idea. He was a leader at the Borough Polytechnic Institute, which is now London South Bank University. He thought they should open a school just for baking.

The next year, Sir Magnus visited a private baking school. It was run by a man named John Blandy. Sir Magnus was very impressed! He asked Mr. Blandy to help set up a new school. This school would teach people how to bake in a practical way.

In April 1894, the plan was approved. They even got money to start the school. On October 10, 1894, the first evening classes began. These classes were for bakers and people who made sweets. Mr. Henry C Kutz, a leader of London bakers, officially opened them.

Growing Bigger and Better

By 1898, baking students were the largest group at the Polytechnic. There were 142 students! Because of this success, John Blandy suggested a national bakery school. This school would be at the Polytechnic.

In 1899, a group called the National Association of Master Bakers took over the school. They paid for everything themselves. From then on, it was called the National School of Bakery and Confectionary.

The school kept its evening classes. But it also started focusing on full-time students. Six students joined in the first full-time term. In 1902, new bakery buildings were started. Important people like Thomas Fletcher and John Humphry were there.

Later that year, the new buildings opened. Mr. John Kirkland became the head of the department. In 1909, the Lord Mayor of London, Sir George Wyatt Truscott, opened the new day session. There were 44 full-time students.

Special Cakes and Events

In April 1916, the first fourteen female students joined the bakery school. In 1927, John Kirkland left his job. A lecture hall was named after him, and it is still used today!

During World War II, the school's head, Mr. Bennion, helped the government. He advised them on food rationing. He also suggested using potato flour in baked goods.

In 1947, a higher diploma in Baking Technology was created. The next year, the school made a special cake. It was for the silver wedding anniversary of King George VI and the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. They also baked the christening cake for the baby Prince Charles.

In 1958, the Bakery Department won a big award. They got a grand prix d'excellence and a gold medal! This was at an international exhibition in Brussels. In 1960, a staff member, Miss Joan Russell, designed a wedding cake. It was for the wedding of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong Jones.

In 1965, the National Bakery Students' Society celebrated its 60th birthday. The Lord Mayor of London also received special bread from the students. They delivered it by hand cart to Mansion House. The Mayor and Lady Mayoress even had afternoon tea with the students.

Modern Times and Unique Projects

In 1969, the National Bakery School moved to new, specially built rooms. These were opened by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. In 1989, the school baked another huge cake. It was nearly three meters tall! This cake celebrated 800 years of the Lord Mayor of London's office. It even had a model of Dick Whittington and his cat.

In 1992, the school started a new degree. It was a BSc (Hons) in Baking Technology and Process Management. This was the first of its kind in the UK! In 1994, the school celebrated its 100th birthday. They had a special lunch and published a recipe book.

In the 2000s, the school started new foundation degrees. These were in Baking Technology Management. In 2004, bakery students worked with a famous designer, Jean Paul Gaultier. They recreated some of his designs using bread!

In 1996, an artist named Sharon Baker asked the school for help. She wanted them to bake bread in life-sized molds of herself. The body-shaped bread was shown at an art event called 'Eat Me'. This was part of the annual London Thames Festival.