YOUNGSTERS heading to secondary school for the first time have been shown it is ‘a piece of cake’ with a special welcome.

Reigning Scottish School Cook of the Year – and Knox Academy’s very own cook – Maria Millar conjured up some brilliant baking ahead of youngsters finishing their summer holidays.

The cake, a school shirt complete with school tie and Knox Academy’s crest, came with the message: ‘Welcome 1st year 2020.’

Maria baked the cake for pupils heading to school last Thursday, with S1 pupils, including her son Andrew, invited to come and try a piece.

She wanted to create a tasty masterpiece, as P7 pupils never got the chance to have the traditional leaving event when moving from primary school to secondary school due to the coronavirus pandemic.

She added: “I wanted to give something to welcome the S1 pupils.”

The vanilla sponge, with strawberry jam, went down well with the pupils and staff.

Maria said: “People were saying they could not believe I made it but I wanted to do something for Knox.”

The hundreds of pupils heading to the Haddington secondary school can expect gastronomic delights.

Maria, who is originally from Venezuela, picked up the national honour last year for the second time.

Her menu of turkey meatballs in a red sauce served with rice primavera, followed by tres leche – three milk – cake, which includes condensed milk, evaporated milk and double cream, impressed judges and saw her regain the title she won in 2016.

Sue Cook, headteacher at the school, thanked Maria.

She said: “It was so lovely of Maria to make this welcome cake.

“All our S1s were offered a piece at lunchtime, with most taking it home for later (or for their parents/carers to have for supper with a cup of tea, like I did).

“Not only was the design bespoke, featuring our Knox Academy school uniform, but it was mouth-wateringly good, too.”