Online bread school, run from Leith, Edinburgh
Bake real sourdough at your own counter
Step-by-step lessons in sourdough, starters, enriched doughs and shaping, taught by a baker with fifteen years at the ovens. For complete beginners and bakers whose loaves come out flat.
- Fifteen years at the ovens
- Written lessons on your counter
- Free sourdough starter course
Our courses
Find the course that fits your bake
From your first starter to a crisp, scored loaf: courses in sourdough, starters, enriched doughs and shaping.
BeginnerYour first sourdough starterMake a starter from flour and water in seven days, and keep it alive for years.Ailsa BarrFree
BeginnerSourdough from scratchYour first real sourdough loaf, from mixing to the first slice, with every step explained.Ailsa Barr£59.00
IntermediateEnriched doughs: brioche, buns and babkaSoft, rich doughs made with butter, eggs and sugar, and three bakes to master them.Tomasz Nowak£45.00
Why learn with us
Baking taught plainly, step by step
No jargon, no guesswork, just what works at your own counter.
Fifteen years of real baking
Learn from a baker with fifteen years at the ovens of a working bakery, not just a kitchen hobbyist.
Lessons made for the counter
Written step-by-step lessons you keep open beside your bowl, so you always know what comes next.
Start free, no pressure
Begin with our free course to start your first sourdough starter before you commit to anything.
Teachers who still bake
Taught by working bakers, including a pastry baker who leads the lessons on enriched doughs.
How it works
Learn at your own pace
Three steps from choosing a course to a loaf you are proud of.
- Step 1
Choose your course
Browse courses in sourdough, starters, enriched doughs and shaping, and pick the one that matches where you are now, from your first loaf to loaves that keep coming out flat.
Start free with our sourdough starter course
- Step 2
Enrol online
Join a course in a few clicks and get the written lessons straight away, ready to open on your counter the next time you bake a loaf.
- Step 3
Learn at your own pace
Work through each lesson in your own kitchen, in your own time, going back over the steps on scoring, shaping or starters as often as you need.
Meet your teachers
Taught by working bakers
Ailsa Barr and Tomasz Nowak teach every lesson themselves.
Ailsa Barr, founder and head baker, spent fifteen years at the ovens of a working bakery. She built Proof Bread School to pass on what she learned, loaf by loaf.
Tomasz Nowak, pastry baker, leads the lessons on enriched doughs, bringing the same close attention to crumb and flavour.
Before you start
Questions before you enrol
Everything you need to know before your first lesson.
Do I need any special equipment to start?
Our written lessons tell you exactly what you need for each course, so you can check before you start.
I have never baked bread before, can I still join?
Yes. Our courses are written for complete beginners as well as bakers whose loaves come out flat, with step-by-step lessons you can follow at your own pace.
How do the lessons work?
Each course gives you written lessons you can keep open on the counter while you bake, so you always know the next step.
Is there a free way to start?
Yes, our free course helps you start your first sourdough starter, no commitment needed.
Where can I see what is included in each course?
Visit our courses page to see what is included in each one.
How do I get in touch if I have a question?
Call us or send a message. We answer questions Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Still have a question?
We answer questions Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Start today
Bake your best loaf yet
Browse our courses in sourdough, starters, enriched doughs and shaping, and start learning today.