Academy of Cheese Courses: Information For Hosts

This page is to aid co-hosts of an Academy of Cheese Level 1 event in designing, preparation and marketing.

Academy of Cheese Level 1

The first level of the Academy training programme, Level 1, teaches cheese through 25 classic cheeses. Through cheesemaking, maturing cheese, presenting cheese and even the history of cheeses, Level 1 will expand your knowledge and love of cheese.

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At Charlie’s training days, delegates enjoy a whole days tasting, learning and enjoying cheese. He covers the practical side of tasting cheese, brings detail to the more complicated materials, and gives an overview of the areas requiring self study.

Delegates unfirmly thoroughly enjoy the day, as tasting cheese and its provenance is at the heart of all topics and discussions.

Event Outline

The Academy Level 1 course is a day’s in-person course plus 4-6 hours of reading and an online exam. The programme is broken down into 9 chapters. On the day, Charlie will emphasise areas which benefit best learning in person and with other people. These include: tasting cheese, cheesemaking, classification of cheeses, presenting and serving cheese, and some cheese history. Other topics will be introduced briefly, and delegates can study them in their own time.

Some hosts prefer to see specific areas covered, such as more time tasting cheese or professional areas such as buying and distribution cheese. You can discuss this with Charlie to focus on what’s important to you.

The Academy of Cheese

The Academy of Cheese is the largest UK cheese teaching body, certifying both professionals and consumers in their cheese knowledge. The Academy is a not-for-profit organisation committed to increasing the world’s knowledge of and love of cheese.

Who Should Get Certified?

Learning about cheese is a jointly educational and enjoyable. The programme is both sociable and academic, and full of enthusiasm. As an Academy of Cheese course it is a Level 1 accredited, making this the perfect day for anybody with an interest in cheese.

People who would be interested in the Academy Level 1 would include:

• People who just love cheese and want more pleasure from it
• People who work with cheese as a profession
• People starting or progressing a career in cheesemaking
• People involved in promoting cheese
• People working in farm shops, deli’s etc selling cheese
• Wine lovers who want to know more about wine’s best friend

Tasting Cheese

As standard, we taste 12 of the 25 in Level 1 Cheese. Charlie will select 12 cheese to guide the day. If you have any cheeses you would particularly like to taste we can incorporate them.

[Note: The lists below are linked to the Academy of Cheese Library. You need to registered as an Academy Level 1 Delegate to access them].

Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO	Brie de Meaux PDO	Roquefort PDO
Brillat -Savarin PGI	Camembert de Normandie PDO	Aged Gouda
Pecorino Sardo PDO	Crottin de Chavignol PDO	Block Cheddar
Yorkshire Wensleydale PGI	Livarot PDO	Cloth-bound Cheddar
Cloth-bound Cheshire	Époisses PDO	Smoked Cheddar
Blue Stilton PDO	Morbier PDO	Mimolette
Gorgonzola PDO	Feta PDO	Manchego PDO
Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO	Goats Curd	Single Gloucester PDO
Parmigiano Reggiano PDO

Customising Your Event

You can customise your event for your delegates or guests.

Attendees	No minimum – up to 22 Each delegate will need to be registered with the Academy at £40pp	Please – Give an indication of the number of people attending at the time of booking – Provide names and email address for each delegate a minimum of two working days before the event
Length of Programme	In-class, typically 5-7 hours 4-6 hours additional reading of the Academy Learning road 30 minute exam Delegates have	Option: Select your hours of study
Exam	Multiple choice online – It is not invigilated – It is open book.  – Delegates can have support materials to hand – 30 Questions – Pass mark 24 (80%) For most students there is plenty to time to complete the exam. People who have completed the learning road generally pass.  Note: The Academy charges £25 to retakes the exam if a delegate fails	N/A
Same Day Exam	It is possible to take the exam on the same day as the class. To achieve this the delegates will need to have read the Learning Road through in advance of the day.   While this has been very effective, some people may not have read the material in advance.  If you select this option, either they may fail the exam, or it may be necessary for them to follow up with the exam at a later date	Option: Consider when you would like your team to take their exam
Pairing With Wine, Beer or Soft Drinks, Such As Apple Juice [Optional]	Pair with a range of drinks for pairing*	Optional**: Pairing with Wine(s), Beer(s)/Cider(s), Soft Drink(s)
Pairing With Food Accompaniments	Pair with a range of suitable accompaniments such as chutneys, fruits or anti-pasti * This section is not essential to passing their exam, but is a very enjoyable practical section for delegates	Optional**: Pairing with foods
Cheeseboard Assembly	Create a cheeseboard, including with biscuits, breads and accompaniments*	Optional**: Cheeseboards and accompaniments provided
Delegates Pack	The Academy provides a printed Delegates Pack, which includes – Cheese Library – Classification pamphlet – Simple cheesemaking pamphlet – Standards & Learning Outcomes (syllabus)	£15 per person

* These options are not essential to passing the exam, but are a very enjoyable practical section for delegates

** An extra charge applies to these elements

Summary of The Academy Level 1 Course

The Academy provides

• Learning road: 9 Chapters of written material to read and learn
• “Check Your Knowledge” tests for each chapter. These help delegates learn and prepare them for the exam
• Delegates Pack: downloadable PDFs covering key areas of study, printed materials
• The exam

Every delegate will get access through the Academy portal to the above.

Delegates also get:

• Recognised certification on successful completion of the exam, including pin and certificate
• 1 year’s subscription to the Academy of Cheese
• Privileged access to Academy events

Nine Areas of Study:

1. Cheese Tasting at Level 1
2. The Level 1 Cheese Library of 25 Cheeses
3. Milk & Cheesemaking
4. Affinage
5. Buying & Distribution
6. Communication About Cheese
7. Presenting & Serving Cheese
8. Cheese Industry Knowledge
9. Regulation & Good Practice

The Delegate’s Pack:

The Delegate’s pack is copyrighted material owned by the Academy of Cheese, and is available to Level 1 Delegates only. I can give you access as Host for a Level 1 event. Please do not share it these files.

Click for a sneak preview of the learning materials in the Delegates Pack:

Learning With Turnbulls

We provide a dedicated learning pathway on the charlieturnbull.com website. This portal gives you a study pathway that co-ordinates with your classroom studies, and provides all our workbooks, supporting materials and links to the relevant Academy materials for your journey.

Free Access To Turnbulls Level 1 Video Self-Study Programme

To support the study, delegates also get complimentary access to the charlieturnbull.com self-study programme:

• 33 On-demand videos for each area study; each tutorial is 5-20 minutes long
• For longer study modules, tutorials will be broken down into sections for more in depth explanation
• Audio recordings of the complete learning road
• Easy access links to the Academy learning road material and sample questions
• Additional Turnbulls explanatory resources
• Further charlieturnbull.com learning materials

No other study system gives this breadth of resources, choice and flexibility.

Resources To Promote Your Event

Charlie Turnbull Biography

Full Biography: Charlie Turnbull – biography – CharlieTurnbull.com