THE OVEN gloves were off as Parkside School students battled it out with their baking implements.

The Great Parkside Bake-Off kept 17 talented young students occupied during the final weeks of the summer term at the Cullingworth school.

Other pupils were happy too, as they were able to sample the concoctions created by the bakers.

The budding kitchen kings and queens had to complete four rounds of baking including a Victoria sponge, shortbread and cupcake.

Finally they had to create their show stopper – just like in the TV show The Great British Bake-Off – before the winner could be announced during the last week of term.

The Parkside version was the brainchild of students from 7 Bronte A form and their form tutor Lydia Cooper.

They chose charities to benefit from money raised throughout the competition, including MacMillan Cancer Support, Martin House hospice, Sue Ryder Manorlands hospice, and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Pupils paid to sample the bakes and to submit the names of their top three bakers each week.

Richard Wilson and Neil Senior, owners of the Cake ’Ole cafes in Keighley and Skipton, awarded the Star Baker award each week.

Both Neil and Richard were delighted to have been invited as guest judges at this year’s competition and donated cakes from their cafes each week as well as a small prize for each Star Baker and a three-tier cake for the overall winner.

After each round of the competition, the Star Bakers were automatically through to the next round of baking.

Star Baker for the Victoria sponge week was Albert Lawler, for the shortbread week Mahalia Fortune-Clubb, and for the cupcake Chloe Hawksworth. With that award Chloe bagged herself automatic entry to the final.

Mrs Cooper said: “All cakes submitted for judging were of exceptional quality and both Richard and Neil remarked at the standard of the produce made.

“Pupils through to the final round included Suman Dhesi, Chloe Hawksworth, Henry Jepson, Albert Lawler, Millie Lee and Molly Rhodes, but it was Henry Jepson’s Snickerdoodle cheesecake that won the judges over, with its bold caramel, chocolate and peanut flavouring.”

Mrs Cooper said the Great Parkside Bake-Off, along with other events organised by students in 7 Bronte A, raised £221 for the four charities.

She added: “I would like to say thank you to all the students and staff who participated and supported The Great Parkside Bake Off 2018 and a special thank you to Richard and Neil for their donations and time from the students at Parkside.”

Other students who took part were were Amber Bennett, Effie Brook, Anna Delilah, Harry Gray, Lia Heywood, Katie Munro, Holly Stott, Minnie Roberts, Millie Terry and Tomas Windle.

The competition comes after Parkside School students achieved varying levels of success during the school year in the national Future Chef.

Following an initial heat in the Cullingworth school, students went on to regional finals and Imogen Pickles came third in the national finals in the spring.

Organisations involved in the annual competition highlighted the quality of dishes prepared by finalists including 16-year-old Imogen.

Imogen wowed the judges with her pan-fried sea bass with ratatouille, salsa verde and wilted spinach, with lemon, raspberry and orange roulade with homemade lemon curd and raspberry puree.