A CHIPPENHAM student is hoping she has the recipe for success as she tries to achieve her dream of winning a prestigious scholarship as well as an internship at one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants.

Sophie Rogers has reached the semi-finals of Le Cordon Bleu’s UK Scholarship Award, a prestigious culinary arts, wine and management school in London.

The winner of the award will be given a place on Diplôme de Pâtisserie, followed by a three-month Diploma in Culinary Management, as well as internship with Clare Smyth MBE, at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant, Hospital Road, Chelsea.

“I was surprised when I found out I’d reached the semi-final to be honest, I’ve wanted it for such a long time that when it happens you can’t believe it,” said the 18-year-old, who studies at Sheldon School.

“I want to own my own patisserie, I’ve wanted to do that for as long as I can remember and the pastry course is the exact thing that I wanted to do when I leave school but I knew that I would have to save up for three or four years before I could do it.

“I have always cooked for as long as I can remember and because I have dyslexia I found I could read recipes before I could read books.

“I’ve always had a natural interest in cooking and always wanted to make things.”

Miss Rogers travelled down to The Elephant restaurant in Torquay last week to take part in the south west semi-final of the competition, which included a tasting test and interview with leading chefs and lecturers.

The final stage of the competition and announcement of the winner will take place on June 2 at Le Cordon Bleu.

“It’s hard to say if I’ve done enough to get to the final but I really hope I have,” added Miss Rogers, of Hardens Mead.

“The chefs were lovely, though, and it would be great to work with them. It would be the best opportunity and I really hope that I have got it.

“Winning it would mean pretty much everything, that’s what I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember.”