Tante Marie facts for kids

Tante Marie Culinary Academy is a famous cooking school in Woking, Surrey, England. It is the oldest independent cooking school in the United Kingdom. A talented cooking writer named Iris Syrett started the school in 1954.

What is Tante Marie Culinary Academy?

Tante Marie was the first school in the UK to offer a special cooking qualification called a Cordon Bleu Diploma. This diploma is a very respected award for professional chefs. Even though it has a similar name, Tante Marie's diploma is its own unique award. It is not part of the 'Le Cordon Bleu' international group of schools.

Learning to Cook Like a Pro

The Cordon Bleu diploma is the main part of what Tante Marie teaches. They have many different courses. You can take short workshops that last just one day to learn about specific types of cooking. They also have a full-time, one-year course. This long course gives students the professional Cordon Bleu Diploma. It also gives them a Level 4 Diploma in Professional Culinary Arts. This is a real qualification that Tante Marie created with the Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality in 2010.

The Restaurant at Tante Marie

The Academy even has its own restaurant! Graduates from the school work there. They are also studying for a Level 5 Diploma in Culinary and Hospitality Management. This means they learn how to manage a kitchen and a restaurant while getting real-world experience.

A Look at Tante Marie's History

Iris Syrett, the school's founder, passed away in 1964. After that, Wendy Majerowicz became the Principal. In 1967, the school moved to a new place called Woodham House.

New Owners and Growth

John and Beryl Childs owned the school from 1982 to 1999. They helped the school grow even more. They added new courses and made the teaching program even better. Tante Marie became known as one of the best places in the world to learn cooking.

In 1999, Marcella O'Donovan, who was one of the school's teachers, bought the school with her family's help. The O'Donovans added new courses for people taking a gap year before college. They also added classes for people who just love to cook as a hobby. At the same time, they made sure the school kept its focus on training professional chefs.

Famous Connections

In April 2008, Andrew Maxwell, who was the Deputy Principal, bought the school. He bought it with help from Gordon Ramsay Holdings. Lyndy Redding also became an owner. Lyndy is a former student of Tante Marie. She now owns a successful catering and events business called Absolute Taste.

A New Home in Woking

In May 2014, it was announced that the school would move to a new location in the center of Woking. The new school opened in early 2015. It is in a newly fixed-up building called Alexander House. The cooking school takes up two floors of the building. It has a special theater kitchen for demonstrations. It also has student kitchens for hands-on learning and classrooms for lessons.