CELEBRITY chef Raymond Blanc visited school pupils today to teach them about French cooking and help them learn the language.

The Michelin-starred chef gave a masterclass in making an apple tarte tatin to Year Four pupils at The Manor Preparatory School, in Faringdon Road, Abingdon.

Afterwards, the pupils, who have been studying French as part of their curriculum and were dressed in Gallic clothes, were only allowed to speak the language as they served diners, including Mr Blanc, at a restaurant set-up in the school hall.

The chef, who owns Maison Blanc and Brasserie Blanc in Oxford, as well as Le Manoir Aux Quat Saisons in Great Milton, said: “I felt very welcome at the school and with the children all dressed up I felt the Entente Cordiale was very much alive.

“Cooking covers a range of things such as health, family, and the environment, and what the children already knew was very impressive.”

French teacher Monica Hyde said: “The children had been looking forward to the visit for a while and it was nice to see M Blanc roll up his sleeves and get involved.”