Food

In years 7 and 8, our lessons link closely with the health and well-being department and create a foundation of skills and knowledge needed to become healthy confident individuals. Working collaboratively, pupils cook with a range of commodities and develop healthy, nutritious dishes.

Pupils cook with fresh produce from our on-site polytunnel. Topics on the curriculum include basic food hygiene, healthy lifestyles and environmental issues.

Pupils start their GCSE options in year 9, and this allows time to focus on developing strong practical skills and theory preparation for the written examination paper at the end of year 11.

In year 9 our topics include a food science project called ‘Fakeaways’ which investigates the science behind how food works and links with popular high street takeaway brands.

In addition, the coursework includes;

• Food production and service
• Health and hygiene laws
• Food technology and consumer affairs linked to the industry.

Pupils also continue to develop practical skills with a range of commodities, again using polytunnel produce where possible.

In year ten practical skills and theory knowledge are developed further and pupils commence part of their GCSE coursework in the summer term. Topics in the curriculum include the principles of nutrition, the science of food and food hygiene standards.

In year 11, the GCSE coursework is full steam ahead and regular theory testing takes place in readiness for their end of year external written examination. In GCSE Food and Nutrition the coursework takes the form on two non-examination assessment projects; one is a food science investigation and other pupils research, plan cook and evaluate three dishes to a given brief.

We currently offer the Level 3 WJEC Food Science and Nutrition course to our sixth form pupils. In year 12 they study Unit 1 – Meet Nutritional needs of Specific Groups. The course is an Applied General qualification which is designed to support you, should you wish to progress on to a higher education course at university. The course involves an internally assessed non-examination assessment project, worth 50% of the overall qualification and an externally assessed written examination, also worth 50%.

In year 13 pupils can continue on to the WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition. A further two units of coursework are studied in this year; Unit 2 – Ensuring food is safe to eat which is mandatory. A final choice of either unit 3 or 4 is studied to complete the diploma.
Unit 3 – Experimenting to solve food production problems, or
Unit 4 – Current issues in food science and nutrition.
The assessment will result in the award of a summative grade of level 3 pass, level 3 merit, level 3 distinction or distinction *.