Alice McFarlane, a geography teacher at City of London School, part of the City of London Corporation’s Family of Schools, was crowned runner-up in this year’s Great British Bake Off.
The 28-year-old, from Essex, triumphed through the series of signature, technical and showstopper baking challenges.
Alice, who has been a teacher at the City school since September 2018, and who previously worked at the now City Corporation-sponsored Highbury Grove School in Islington, turned her hand to baking at the age of 15 while recovering from a back operation which prevented her from being able to do sport.
After 10 weeks’ competition, Alice said: “To compete in the Great British Bake Off has been
a dream come true, and it has been exceptionally difficult to keep the news to myself over recent weeks.
“I so enjoyed the weeks of baking in the famous tent; it was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life.
“As the show has been broadcast, I have been very grateful for the support of all members of the school community, aincluding my wonderful Year 8 tutor group, who have developed some plans to use their own baking skills to raise money for the school’s charity campaign this year.
“Baking is definitely something I will continue to do, because I love nothing more than to bond family and friends over a slice of cake and cup of tea.”
Alan Bird, head of City of London School, said: “We are all so proud of Alice’s performance and wish her our heartiest congratulations.
“All the pupils, staff, parents and carers have been rooting for Alice ever since Bake Off started, and we are so pleased that all those weeks and hours in the tent have paid off for her.”
The City of London Corporation sponsors or co-sponsors 10 academies across Hackney, Newham, Islington and Southwark.
In 2017 and 2018, Sutton Trust named the City Corporation as the UK’s best academy sponsor for empowering GCSE pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds to perform above the national average, and the leading academy sponsor for Progress 8 and Attainment 8, which track pupil progress and achievement.
