Spectrum Chefs Academy is accredited through QCTO and Highfield Qualifications, which are registered on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) in the UK and are regulated by Ofqual. As Highfield is an international qualification, it allows us to give our students the tools for the international culinary stage.
Please find below information on the Chef and Cooks courses.
| Course Name | Diploma for Professional Chef |
| Qualification body | Highfield International (RQF) |
| Duration | 3 years (36 months) |
| Credits | 72 |
| Hours till completion | 712 |
| Qualification | Diploma for Professional Chef 603/6949/8. Graduates will have the tools to start a successful cooking career |
| Total course cost | R 260 000.00 |
| Deposit | R 30 000.00 |
| Learning Materials Cost (Knife set, Uniform & textbooks) | R 6 500.00 paid to Spectrum along with deposit |
| Per-month cost after deposit (paid over 36 months) | R 6 388.00 this includes all ingredients |
| Course Name | Diploma for Professional Cooks |
| Qualification body | Highfield International (RQF) |
| Duration | 1 year (12 months) |
| Credits | 67 |
| Hours till completion | 670 |
| Qualification | Diploma for Professional Cook 603/7117/1. Graduates will have the tools to start in a professional kitchen |
| Total course cost | R 90 000.00 |
| Deposit | R 24 000.00 |
| Learning Materials Cost (Knife set, Uniform & textbooks) | R 6 500.00 paid to Spectrum along with deposit |
| Per-month cost after deposit (paid over 12 months) | R 5 500.00 this includes all ingredients |
Hospitality and Catering
Highfield Level 3 Diploma for Professional Chefs (RQF)
This qualification is designed for learners employed in professional catering roles or for those wishing to develop their skills in the industry. This qualification covers a variety of topics including:
- the principles of food safety
- kitchen etiquette
- workplace standards and professional development
- allergen awareness
- kitchen operations
- menu planning and recipe costing
- preparing, cooking and finishing food groups
How long will it take me to achieve this qualification?
The total qualification time for this qualification is 712 hours, of which 454 are recommended as guided learning hours.
How is the qualification assessed?
Unit 1 – Principles of Food Safety for Catering: this unit is assessed through a multiple-choice examination, externally set and marked by Highfield Qualifications. Learners must complete 20 questions within 45 minutes, and successful learners will need to achieve a mark of 66% (13/20) overall to pass. Completed examination papers should be returned to Highfield for marking, and results will then be supplied to the centre afterwards.
Unit 2 – Health and Safety within the workplace: this unit is assessed through a multiple-choice examination, externally set and marked by Highfield Qualifications. Learners must complete 20 questions within 45 minutes, and successful learners will need to achieve a mark of 60% (12/20) overall to pass. Completed examination papers should be returned to Highfield for marking and results will then be supplied to the centre afterwards.
All other units: all other units in this qualification are assessed through the completion of a portfolio of evidence that will also be internally assessed and internally quality assured by the centre. A portfolio of evidence gives centres flexibility in how individual assessment criteria are assessed, and Highfield Qualifications promotes holistic assessment.
Highfield Level 2 Diploma for Professional Cooks (RQF)
The objective of this qualification is to support those in the workplace. It is designed for learners employed in professional catering roles who cook or commit chef for those wishing to develop their skills in the industry.
This qualification covers a variety of topics including:
- the principles of food safety and health and safety
- kitchen equipment and knife skills
- workplace standards and professional development
- environmental awareness
- nutrition, special diets and allergen awareness
- cold food preparation and presentation
- cooking methods
How long will it take me to achieve this qualification?
The total qualification time for this qualification is 370 hours, of which 358 are recommended as guided learning hours.
How is the qualification assessed?
Unit 1 – Principles of Food Safety for Catering: this unit is assessed through a multiple-choice examination, externally set and marked by Highfield Qualifications. Learners must complete 20 questions within 45 minutes, and successful learners will need to achieve a mark of 60% (12/20) overall to pass. Completed examination papers should be returned to Highfield for marking, and results will then be supplied to the centre after results.
Unit 2 – Health and Safety within the workplace: this unit is assessed through a multiple-choice examination, externally set and marked by Highfield Qualifications. Learners must complete 20 questions within 45 minutes, and successful learners will need to achieve a mark of 60% (12/20) overall to pass. Completed examination papers should be returned to Highfield for marking, and results will then be supplied to the centre after results.
All other units in this qualification are assessed through the completion of a portfolio of evidence that will also be internally assessed and internally quality assured by the centre.
Cooking Skills
Spectrum Chefs Academy in-house Skills Classes
Our famous skills lessons that have been tried and tested over the last 14 years.
| Items | Description |
| 5 hours | Lessons focusing on: Personal hygiene and safety; Personal development; Food safety: – Contamination – Cross-contamination – Preparation/ Defrosting/ Cooking/ Holding/ Cooling – Dry/ Fridge/ Freezer storage conditions; Kitchen Hazards; Healthy and safe workplace; Equipment – maintenance and usage; Vegetable pot/garden care; Ingredient identification; Food production; Cooking methods and techniques; Units of measurement; Nutrition. Morning classes include 45 minutes in the boardroom learning important life skills such as responsibility, making decisions, self-confidence, etc. |
| Days | Monday to Friday |
| Times | 9am to 2pm |
| Duration | Open-ended |
| What to bring | Container crate (list provided on enrolment) |
| Outcome | Competence in the kitchen, ability to be self-sustaining, confidence, opportunities to become self-employed |
| Cost | R 630.00 per 5-hour session / R650 for special diet |
| Items | Description |
| 2 hours | A lesson focussing on preparing a meal for the entire family to enjoy. Each lesson covers the same as the 5-hour sessions but in a more “casual” way. |
| Days | Monday to Friday |
| Times | 2pm to 4pm |
| What to bring | Container crate (list provided on enrolment) |
| Outcome | Self-confidence, providing a meal for the family, ability to assist in the home kitchen |
| Cost | R 525.00 per 2-hour session / R550 for special diet. |
PLEASE NOTE:
Discounted fees for more than 2 lessons per week.
Fees are structured over 11 months and based on the number of lessons per week/month.