Noteworthy News

Chef Amber Francis WINS CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS in Great British Menu 2025

Christ's College Finchley Roars with Pride for Champion Chef Amber Francis!

The entire Christ's College Finchley community is bursting with pride as our very own Head Chef, Amber Francis, has triumphed in the prestigious Great British Menu 2025, being crowned the coveted Champion of Champions! Amber's incredible culinary journey captivated the nation, and her victory is a testament to her exceptional talent, unwavering dedication, and inspiring message about the importance of healthy school food.

The atmosphere at Christ's College Finchley has been electric throughout Amber's journey on the show. From nail-biting regional heats to the intense national finals, staff and students alike have been glued to their screens, eagerly following every twist and turn. Our school's Instagram page, @ChristsCollegeFinchley, became a hub of excitement, filled with messages of support, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and celebratory posts as Amber progressed through the competition. If you haven't already, do check out the page to relive the thrilling ride!

To mark this momentous occasion, we hosted a special banquet viewing party for Amber's closest friends, family, and colleagues. The evening was filled with joy, laughter, and of course, delicious food, as we celebrated Amber's incredible achievement. We even spotted Dr Hill and our two very own students Daniel and Terry amongst the guests. It was a fantastic opportunity to share our collective pride and show Amber just how much her success means to us all.  Please see a short video of the event here .

But the celebrations didn't stop there! In a heartwarming gesture, Amber herself baked a mountain of the delicious biscuits from her award-winning dessert for all the staff and students – a tasty reminder of the incredible talent we have leading our school kitchen.   

Amber's winning menu featured a truly unforgettable dessert dedicated to Hannah More, the namesake of her former school. This thoughtful and beautifully executed dish not only showcased Amber's culinary prowess but also highlighted her deep connection to her roots.

Beyond the thrill of the competition, Amber's participation in the Great British Menu has shone a vital light on a cause close to her heart: the need for healthy and nutritious school food. In partnership with Chefs in Schools, Amber is passionate about using her platform to educate and advocate for the benefits of healthy eating for students' concentration, growth, and overall well-being. Her dedication to providing our students at Christ's College Finchley with delicious and healthy meals is truly inspiring.

Amber's journey in the competition wasn't always smooth sailing. She faced tough challenges and moments of doubt, but her perseverance and unwavering dedication ultimately led her to victory. Her story is a powerful reminder that with hard work and passion, anything is possible.

Since her triumphant win, Amber has been in high demand! She recently appeared on the popular BBC show Saturday Kitchen, where she shared her experiences and showcased her culinary skills. Keep an eye out for The Times newspaper tomorrow, where Amber will be featured, sharing her insights and reflections on her incredible journey. She also attended a prestigious event run by Belazu at Fortnum and Mason, further cementing her place in the culinary world.

Closer to home, Amber's success has been celebrated in our very own local newspaper, The Archer, highlighting the pride of our community. She has also been a sought-after guest on numerous podcasts, sharing her inspiring story and advocating for healthy school food.

From all the staff, students, and the entire Christ's College Finchley community, we extend our warmest congratulations to Chef Amber Francis, our Champion of Champions! We are immensely proud of her achievements and her inspiring dedication to healthy school food. Her victory is a true inspiration to us all!

We encourage you to explore more about Amber's incredible achievement through these links:

• Saturday Kitchen appearance (likely available on BBC iPlayer after broadcast): https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0029ldv/saturday-kitchen-29032025 

• The Times article (available tomorrow): https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/parenting/article/amber-francis-great-british-menu-ptb2t2q5j   

• Country and Townhouse: https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/food-and-drink/amber-great-british-menu/ 

• Women in the Food Industry article: https://womeninthefoodindustry.com/interview-amber-francis-south-west-region-great-british-menu-2025-women-in-the-food-industry/ 

• Belazu event for 'Women in Food' at Fortnum and Mason: https://belazu.com/about/foundation/chefs-in-schools/ 

• The Archer newspaper article : https://drive.google.com/file/d/12qwGCkAfovaTlI1Yz3o8uuT4qBQAyYH2/view?usp=sharing 

• Podcasts featuring Amber: 

Beyond the Pass https://rss.com/podcasts/beyondthepasswithkellyscause/1965397/  

Scoop https://open.spotify.com/episode/10F5GGmTPY9hceQhPlzYLL?si=l3TOSSRCQN22cBIYqiSirw 

• Radio Show:

BBC Bristol https://drive.google.com/file/d/13udvKt0eMQY99PCvlxhhRT9hv1Ng_OtI/view?usp=sharing 

• Reels

Food Behind Bars: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DH8raPpIrT9/ 

Year 11 Drama

This week our Year 11 students enjoyed a bespoke workshop from professional actor Steve Whatts, who was part of the cast of 'Witness for the Prosecution', the immersive theatre show, performed in the courtrooms of County Hall. Steve talked the students through his individual rehearsal process, his development of character through voice and movement and the director's overall artistic intentions for the show. All of this gave the students invaluable insight for the 'Response to Live Theatre ' element of their written Drama examination.