My cookery teacher was the vicar's wife and she was a terrifying Gorgon but if I met her now (long gone alas) I'd thank her for the basic skills she taught me.
We made:-
white bread, brown bread, fruit loaf,
sponge cake, fruit cake, scones, ginger cake, rock cakes, Christmas cake (with home made marzipan and royal icing),
Bakewell tart and crumble,
rough, puff, flaky , rough-puff, choux and short pastrty,
roux, bechamel, brown and white sauce,
lemon curd,
meringue,
and many other things of which I imbibed the technique but forget the details.
She made me into a confident cook and I have added to her repertoire considerably over the years. What pleasures in cooking, eating and entertaining she gave in those far off lessons.