Orla was an Entry Level 2 learner at Nescot who took part in the college Bake Off 2026-27 competition. Orla was one of the two students who worked in a team to represent Nescot at the Surrey FE SEND completion.
Orla and her teammate completed against over 50 other learners in 20+ teams to reach the final Surrey FE SEND completion
Participation in the competition provided Orla with an important opportunity to develop her confidence, communication and teamwork skills. As a non-verbal learner, Orla used non-verbal communication and written notes to communicate her ideas, ask for help and work effectively with her teammate and staff. Working collaboratively was particularly valuable for Orla, as she had previously often preferred to work independently or on her own within a team. Through the competition, she became more comfortable working alongside others, contributing ideas and taking an active role within the team.
Orla demonstrated a strong commitment to the competition by attending college outside of her timetabled hours to practise with her teammate. This showed her motivation, independence and determination to improve. The experience helped Orla to become more self-confident and gave her the opportunity to recognise her own abilities and make a meaningful contribution to a team.
The competition also provided Orla with the opportunity to develop baking and cake-decoration skills that were not covered to a great extent within the existing curriculum. Through the competition, she learned about different types of icing and colouring techniques, as well as how to use edible flowers and edible rice paper to create and present the cake they designed. This encouraged her creativity while developing new practical skills and confidence in cake decoration.
The Bake Off provided a valuable extension to Orla’s curriculum, allowing her to apply practical skills in a competitive and realistic environment. It also supported the development of transferable skills including teamwork, communication, planning, problem-solving, independence, resilience and working towards a shared goal. These skills will support Orla throughout her education and future career in Animal studies as well as everyday life.
For Orla, the competition was about more than developing baking skills. It gave her an opportunity to challenge herself, work alongside a peer, communicate in a different environment and experience success. Her progression from the class competition to the next stage demonstrated her determination and ability to develop, while the experience has helped her become more confident in herself and her contribution to a team.
