OSTC Cookery (Level 3)
Food & Beverage
A course by
Otago Polytechnic
Practical course for secondary school students covering commercial cookery skills, health and safety, and customer service, preparing students for further study or entry-level roles in the hospitality sector.
In-person study
Face-to-face learning in a physical classroom setting
Dunedin, Dunedin
Core skills this course teaches
Work effectively in a commercial kitchen
Be able to operate safely and efficiently within a commercial kitchen environment.
Prepare a range of industry-standard dishes
Prepare, cook, and present basic meat, vegetable, fish, pasta, pastry, egg, rice, and dessert dishes.
Understand and implement health and safety requirements
Apply health, safety and food safety practices in a food-related business.
What You're Signing Up For
This hands-on programme, run through Otago Secondary Tertiary College (OSTC), is designed for students still at secondary school who wish to acquire practical cookery skills in a commercial kitchen environment. Students will learn to prepare, cook, and present dishes common to the food industry, as well as develop knowledge in health and safety and customer service. The programme supports career pathways into hospitality, catering, and further study.
Course Content
- Work in a commercial kitchen
- Prepare, cook and present dishes common to the industry
- Learn health and safety requirements
- Learn effective customer service and communication techniques
- Unit standards in meat, vegetable, fish, and egg dishes
- Dessert, rice, pasta and pastry preparation
- Applying food safety, health & security practices
- Following standard operating procedures and codes of conduct
What you need to know first
Must be enrolled at secondary school
Application must be made through the school’s careers advisor
What sort of industry will this job lead to
Hospitality
Food & Beverage
Future employment opportunities might be
Commis chef
Demi chef
Chef de partie
Caterer
Restaurateur
Otago Polytechnic is known for high quality, hands on learning that leads to strong outcomes. With excellent student satisfaction, high graduate employment rates, and a commitment to sustainability, it’s a place where practical skills meet purpose. Their award winning programmes span design, fashion, creative arts, trades, health, and business, giving you real experience and real confidence for whatever comes next.