Fareham College cookery student ‘disappointed’ as results downgraded despite her joining Michelin-starred French restaurant

A FAREHAM student is set to join a Michelin-starred French restaurant – but she was left ‘very disappointed’ after receiving a worse-than-predicted result for a test cancelled due to Covid-19.
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Molly Greenwood, from Locks Heath, has been accepted to become an intern chef at La Villa Archange, a gourmet restaurant with a two-star Michelin rating in Cannes, France.

But the exam body for her Fareham College cookery diploma has left her with a bad taste in her mouth today – with a Pass grade for a cancelled exam after she received Merits and Distinction results across the last two years.

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The 19-year-old said: ‘We were supposed to take a practical test where you have five hours to prepare five dishes.

Molly Greenwood received Merits and Distinctions in her cookery course - until an exam body gave her a Pass for a cancelled exam.  Picture: Keith WoodlandMolly Greenwood received Merits and Distinctions in her cookery course - until an exam body gave her a Pass for a cancelled exam.  Picture: Keith Woodland
Molly Greenwood received Merits and Distinctions in her cookery course - until an exam body gave her a Pass for a cancelled exam. Picture: Keith Woodland

‘There’s seven people on the course and four people I have spoken to got Passes. We were all expecting Merits. My teacher said I would be put forward as being predicted a merit.

‘It’s very disappointing because there was a lot of build up to (the exam). I’m going to email my tutor to see what I can do about it – it does feel unfair.’

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Thankfully the student had already been accepted for the internship at the French restaurant, which will see her being paid € 650 a month for six months, starting in September.

Molly Greenwood, 19, working in Fareham College's skills kitchen. Molly Greenwood, 19, working in Fareham College's skills kitchen.
Molly Greenwood, 19, working in Fareham College's skills kitchen.
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The budding chef is ‘excited’ for the experience – and nervous as Brexit means she will have to return to the UK in January to ensure she has a visa that will allow her to work on the continent.

She said: ‘I do feel very unlucky.

‘Everything this year has changed.

‘Last year things would have been so much smoother.

‘But it feels like there’s nothing I can do – it is what it is.’

Despite her accepting attitude, Molly believes the government is letting down hard-working young people by not better enforcing its own Covid-19 restrictions.

She said: ‘I’m not okay with what the government is doing.

‘We’ve gone through all this, and I still see people not properly socially distancing and beaches that are crowded – it’s like a lot of people have forgotten about the virus.’

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