The Third Degree – Coleg Gwent Adds New Level 3 Pastry Course

Coleg Gwent has recently launched a new Level 3 Certificate in General Patisserie and Confectionery course, aimed at preparing students for careers as pastry chefs or pâtissiers. This part-time course will be held at the Crosskeys Campus, starting on September 2, 2024, and will span 34 weeks with classes on Mondays from 11am to 6pm.

Helen Lawless, Head of School – Services to People at Coleg Gwent said: “I am delighted that we are adding a new Level 3 Pastry Course to our Hospitality and Catering course provision. Existing students are very excited and we hope that we’ll see many new students apply. There is no upper age limit, so we would welcome applications from chefs in industry who may want to specialise and hone their skills in patisserie and confectionery, as well as those looking to join Coleg Gwent for the next stage in their educational journey.”

The course covers a wide range of patisserie and confectionery skills including the production of dough and batter products, petits fours, paste products, hot and cold desserts, biscuits, cakes, sponges, and decorative display pieces. Students will also learn advanced chocolate production methods, including tempering techniques and creating various chocolate products like truffles and chocolate bars.

Assessment methods for the course include short answer papers, assignments, and practical assessments. To enroll, candidates should have some prior experience in a kitchen environment and must demonstrate creativity, self-motivation, and a passion for cooking. Upon completion, students can progress to advanced levels of professional cookery courses.

As Coleg Gwent has a Chefs’ Forum Academy, now in its fourth year, the course will be enriched by masterclasses by top Pastry Chefs and Taster days with local schools, which act as promotional days for the college.

Thibault Courtoisier gave a fantastic chocolate demo at the last taster day.

Director of The Chefs’ Forum Catherine Farinha said: “The new level 3 course at Coleg Gwent will be an excellent addition to the courses on offer and we look forward to working with them to provide enrichment from our visiting professionals and really pushing the boundaries of pastry in Wales. We look forward to encouraging Pastry students from Coleg Gwent to enter our Student Pastry Chef of the Year 2025!”

For more information on this and other Hospitality and Catering Courses available at Coleg Gwent, please visit their website HERE