A CHIPPENHAM student is one step closer to achieving her dream of winning a prestigious scholarship and internship at one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants.

Sophie Rogers has reached the finals of Le Cordon Bleu’s UK Scholarship Award, which hopes to tackle the shortage of chefs in the industry.

Worth over £35,000 the award will offer the lucky winner a place on the coveted Diplôme de Pâtisserie, followed by a three month diploma in culinary management and an internship with Clare Smyth MBE, the head chef at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant in Chelsea.

The 18-year-old who studies at Sheldon School said: “I applied for this scholarship because I knew that Le Cordon Bleu was the next stage of my life that I wanted to get to it as fast as possible and without the help of the scholarship it would have been years before I could have saved enough money to attend my dream school. To be honest I was extremely surprised to reach this stage but I can honestly say there have been few times in my life that I have been so happy.''

Thirty-seven semi-finalists across five regions were judged on their passion for pâtisserie and cut down to just 14.

Miss Rogers added: “I am super, super excited about the final but at the same time it doesn’t feel real. It means so much to me and winning it would allow me to bring my dream of having my own pâtisserie and chocolate shop by the time I’m 30 closer as I wouldn’t have to spend money on the course itself.''

The A Level student is also preparing for her food, psychology and drama exams which she says are helping to take her mind off the nerves.

The final stage of the competition will take place on Thursday, June 2 at the prestigious culinary arts, wine and management school, Le Cordon Bleu London.