Students have full use of the grounds and facilities; gym, MUGA (muti-use games area) for tennis, football, basketball etc. grass badminton court, volleyball court rounders pitch (weather permitting), outdoor table tennis tables, indoor table football, pool table and a rather bumpy croquet lawn.

Coffee (cappuccino, espresso, latté etc,) & petite fours : Chocolate Fudge / Strawberries dipped in White Chocolate

Cheese board & Port :Five different cheeses eg. Stilton, Pie D’Angloys, Wensleydale with cramberries

The opportunity to take the Level2 Award in Food Safety in Catering(an optional extra on a two week course, details below). Our short courses have proved to be extremely successful - short enough for students to remain focused and enthusiastic about cooking but long enough to turn a complete beginner into a competent cook. Purpose built domestic style kitchens equipped with Miele appliances, rather than a stainless steel set up with commercial equipment. Britain's Favourite Cookery School (voted by the public) in the British Cookery School Awards (also finalists in Best English and Best Large Cookery School categories) Henry’s Avalanche Talk. Henry is well known and experienced Mountain Safety expert in Val d’Isere and he has prepared a bespoke training video for Orchards students to introduce them to the real risks of skiing off piste and the dangers of avalanches.We will give you the opportunity to start the season with the perfect routine. If you don’t have time to ski to your heart's content and make the most of the aprés ski, what is the point of putting up with the cold! The extensive kitchen garden where we grow our own herbs, fruit and vegetables. Most other ingredients are sourced from local suppliers. Students are taken on a tour of the kitchen garden to see how some of the produce they use during their course is grown and harvested. Students learn a huge variety of dishes, including roast meals, curry, salads, soups, mince and all the meals you can make with it (spaghetti bolognaise, cottage pie, lasagne, chilli), cooked breakfasts, cakes and biscuits, ice creams and sorbets, meringues, sushi, quiches, dinner party foods, vegetarian options etc. Students can do the Level2 Award in Food Safety in Cateringwhile on the course (an optional extra on the two week course only) which is recommended to students who may want to earn money with their new skills.

Courses are designed so that we can train groups of mixed abilities, making all courses suitable for both complete beginners and more experienced cooks.

Designed specifically for ski season Chalet Cooks (although the course is a good all-round course for those who want to learn to cook), the course will boost your confidence, develop your culinary skills and knowledge of cooking and give you the ability and inspiration to create your own masterpieces in the kitchen. Gym / fitness facilities; a gym with commercial equipment including a treadmill, cross trainer, rowing machine, cycle, utility bench and dumbbells, a MUGA (multi use games area) for tennis, football, basket ball etc. a badminton court, volley ball and other games played in the garden. There is an art to being a great Chalet Cook. We will show you how to master it, enabling you to get the most out of both your job and life in the mountains. With many seasons of experience in the chalet industry and working alongside ski companies we have designed a course to train the perfect chalet host. Other facilities include a licensed bar and dancefloor, pool table, football table, outdoor table tennis tables, and two pianos and guitars for the musically minded.

Continental breakfast (for those staying at The Orchards), mid-morning tea, coffee and refreshments, four-five course lunch, afternoon tea and four-five course dinner with wine. The One Day Course starts at 9.30am with a brief introduction, followed by knife skills and then preparations for a five – six course lunch (sample menus below). The lunch party starts with a glass of bubbly and canapés, wine is served during lunch and the meal concludes with cheese and port followed by fresh coffee and petits fours. After lunch there is a tour of the kitchen garden, for those who are interested. During the afternoon students can bake cakes, biscuits etc. to take home. We will show you short cuts and pass on valuable tips of the trade, teach you how to handle disasters and equip you to cope with the unexpected problems you may come across while cooking at altitude (exploding cakes being the most memorable one!). Students receive a goodie bag which includes The Orchards Cookery Book, which has over 420 fool proof recipes that are fuss free, impressive and delicious.

Students involved in the International Baccalaureate Diploma programme can do one of our five day courses to fulfil the creativity requirements of their CAS. The courses are suitable for both beginners and experienced cooks who are after new ideas and for individuals or group bookings. Many ski companies look for chalet cooks with some formal training / qualifications in Food Safety / Hygiene (as do catering companies and agencies looking for cooks). Students take home their freshly baked cake or biscuits and a goodie bag including an Orchards Cookery book, apron, tea towel, mug and a pen. Cookery School of The Year and the Best English Cookery School in the British Cookery School Awards (also 'Highly Commended' in the Best Specialist Cookery School category and finalists in the Best Large and Britain's Favourite Cookery School categories)