Cornwall Schools Given Chance to Transform Cooking Lessons – Thanks to This Cornish Event

£16,500 Raised Through Cornish Pasty Week 2025

Cooking lessons in Cornish schools are set to improve dramatically after this year’s Cornish Pasty Week raised £16,500 for the Cornish Pasty Community Fund.

Organised by the Cornish Pasty Association, the 2025 celebration saw a whirlwind of activity across the county – and now more than 20 schools have already secured funding to upgrade their cooking facilities. The application window remains open for others to benefit.

The funds will be used to buy cookers, aprons and other equipment, support food-related field trips and fund practical cooking sessions.

Schools in South East Cornwall Share £2,000

Among the latest recipients are Fourlanesend Community Primary and Carbeile Junior School, part of the Rame Federation in south east Cornwall. The two schools received a total of £2,000 to purchase ovens and equipment.

Federation Head Pete Hamlyn said:

“The funding we have received from the Cornish Pasty Community Fund was such amazing news for two schools who are prioritising cooking as part of the curriculum, but also as a life skill.

“The money we have received will buy cookers and all of the equipment we need for large year groups to be able to cook outstanding projects together.

“At Carbeile Junior School and Fourlanesend School, we believe that the children should experience a memorable and broad curriculum, and enabling the children to cook at least once per term will certainly ensure this. Thank you for helping our curriculum vision to become reality.”

📷Crimping competition contestant Yuriko Shigyo picks up some tips from Graham Cornish

Highlights from Cornish Pasty Week 2025

Running since 2018, Cornish Pasty Week is now a firm fixture on the county’s calendar – but organisers say this year’s edition has been one of the most successful yet.

Fan-favourite mascots Mr and Mrs Pasty returned from their break with a “bakeover” and toured Cornwall, taking in foodie and cultural hotspots such as Knightor Winery, St Austell Brewery, Truro Cathedral, the National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow, Healeys Cornish Cyder Farm, Polgoon Vineyard and Philleigh Way Cookery School.

Over at the Great Cornish Food Store in Truro, the annual World’s Fastest Crimper contest attracted participants from across the South West – and even as far afield as Tokyo.

Japanese accountant and pasty enthusiast Yuriko Shigyo learned from award-winning crimper Graham Cornish before taking part in the competition. The winner was Penpol grandmother Sue Mountford, who has been making pasties for more than 50 years.

At St Mabyn Primary School, pupils took part in a pasty-making masterclass led by expert crimper Julie Roberts. The school previously received funds raised by the 2024 Cornish Pasty Week.

‘A Pasty Week to Remember’

CPA Chairman Jason Jobling said:

“This year a whole host of events gave us a pasty week to remember.
“It was great to see the support continuing to come in from the pasty-making community, with sponsorship by key suppliers and donations from Cornish pasty shops far and wide.
“Not only were we celebrating the iconic pasty at the coming of spring, we were also highlighting the fabulous range of experiences Cornwall has to offer at this time of year.”

Jason added: “The funds raised can help make a real difference in schools.”

Schools interested in applying to the Cornish Pasty Community Fund can find out more at the Cornish Pasty Association website.

📷St Mabyn School pupils greet Mr and Mrs Pasty