Name of the school: Tante Marie Culinary Academy

Year of foundation: 1954

Brief history of the school: Tante Marie is the UK’s oldest independent cookery school. It’s internationally acclaimed Cordon Bleu Diploma has become one of the worlds’ foremost professional qualifications and graduates of this course are now running successful businesses around the world. Tante Marie also offers a selection of Gap Year and Lifestyle courses.

Location: Woking, Surrey, just 25 minutes by train from central London.

Brief description of its pastry training program: Our Cordon Bleu Diploma course covers every area of cookery – including both pastry and cuisine.

Other facilities: 5 teaching kitchens, demonstration theatre, theory classroom, library and students fruit, vegetable and herb gardens.

Website: www.tantemarie.co.uk