The duo have just picked up top grades in their exams, with Katie getting A* in food technology and Sam bagging an A.

After only a couple of lessons under the instruction of food technology teacher Shelley Lewis-Lavender, the Penwortham Priory Sports and Technology College pupils were competing in the Preston heat of the Lancashire Education Business Partnership's Young Chef competition.

Shelley said: "Sam had a natural talent in the kitchen and he and Katie worked so well together that I thought this competition would be the ideal chance for their skills to develop."

The duo collected three prizes in the final, including Lancashire Young Chef at key stage four as well as Best Team Work and Most Creative Menu for their original culinary offerings.

Sam said: "We had to justify everything we did, and were judged on our cooking techniques as well as our knowledge of the nutritional benefits of our meal."

The winning menu of salmon and shrimp ravioli followed by braised leg and pan-fried saddle of rabbit stood out to head judge, James Holden of The Academy of Culinary Arts, who asked the pair to help him in the kitchen at a prestigious event.

Shelley said: "James asked me if I thought Sam and Katie would be interested in assisting him in the kitchen at the North West Food Awards, to which I said they would jump at the chance."

As preparation for the prestigious event, Sam and Katie spent the day at Simply Heathcotes at Wrightington working with head chef Mike Noolan, cooking some of his signature dishes and getting their first taste of a professional kitchen.

Shelley added: "Mike was so impressed he offered both of them the opportunity to gain further experience working in Heathcotes kitchens, which they will be taking him up on now their exams are out of the way."

The North West Food Awards ceremony was held at the Liverpool Echo Arena and the pair rose to the challenge by helping to prepare canapés, followed by a four-course meal for 360 guests.

Katie said: "It is very different, cooking on such a big scale. The canapés were tricky as they all had to be perfectly presented."

Shelley added: "The Young Chef competition opens doors into the industry and has allowed our students to make their dreams become a reality year after year."

Sam and Katie are not the first culinary success stories from Priory. After winning the Lancashire Young Chef competition two years ago, former student Charles Smith went on to train at the Michelin-starred Gilpin Lodge and is now working under Marcus Wareing at Gordon Ramsay's Petrus restaurant in London.