Food Preparation and Nutrition

Students in Key Stage 3 learn to understand their basic daily needs for nutritional wellbeing. Students are offered exciting and interesting experiences that focus on learning to produce nutritious and healthy meals based on the national healthy eating guidelines and the Eatwell Guide.

Through a range of practical and written activities, students learn the basic knowledge and skills needed to engage in making their own nutritious and healthy meals. Students are expected to gain useful life skills and cooking techniques, which will enable them to prepare nutritious meals at home for their families.

Food preparation and cooking skills include; cutting techniques, safe use of basic kitchen equipment and utensils, safe operation of cooker and oven, mixing and combining ingredients, measurements and planning ingredients and most importantly how to work safely and hygienically in the kitchen.

Key nutritional principles taught include; the Eatwell Guide, the importance of macronutrients (protein, fats, carbohydrates), micronutrients (vitamin and minerals), dietary fibre and water. Pupils will gain an awareness of dietary needs taking into account the different stages of life, vegetarians, allergies and religious considerations for example, and how dishes and meals can be planned to meet the needs of specific dietary groups.

Examples of students work 

Throughout year 10 students will acquire knowledge and practise the acquisition of food preparation skills.  This learning is consolidated in year 11 and pupils will also complete 2 pieces of timed coursework (Non-Examined Assessment).  The first piece of coursework focusses on experimenting with food science and development work and the second involves showcasing food preparation methods to make a 3 course meal for a set task.  Finally, the course is completed with the written examination at the end of year 11.

Year 10

• Practical lesson - learning in depth food preparation skills from the set list including the application of molecular gastronomy. Students will also apply nutritional knowledge to dishes produced and explore the different types of food chemistry and functions.  This is to prepare students for their NEA in Food Science and their NEA in food preparation.
• Theory lesson - Students will acquire knowledge on the specification topics in order to apply this in the practical classroom. This is to prepare students with the knowledge required for their written examination.
• Homework - Homework tasks are set to consolidate students learning and understanding of topics taught in lessons.

Examples

Year 11

The focus of year 11 is to complete 2 pieces of NEA and revisit the knowledge learnt in year 10 in order to revise for a written examination.

• NEA Food Science investigation 15% – applying food science and chemistry knowledge to experiments and writing up your findings in a 1500—2000 report / essay with photographs.
• NEA Food Preparation 35% – produce a 3 course meal within a 3 hour timed assessment showing as many food preparation skills as possible around a set brief. Write up and evaluate your findings within a 20 hour written report.
• Revision programme for the end of year 11—revisiting topics learnt in year 10—written examination 50%

NEA Task 1:

Food Science investigation 15%:1500-2000 report with photographs.

You will carry out an investigation into the scientific principles that underpin the preparation and cooking of food. This task will provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and practically apply your understanding of the science behind cooking. You’ll practically investigate ingredients and explain how they work and why.

NEA Task 2:

NEA Food Preparation 35%, 20 hours, written report.

You will plan, prepare, cook and present a 3 course menu. This task will provide you with an opportunity to cook up a storm and showcase your creativity and cooking skills. You might make a street food menu, create delicious tapas dishes or cook up a menu for a student on a budget.

Assessment

Written Exam 50%. – There will be one exam for this qualification, which will assess your knowledge of the theory behind food preparation and nutrition. The exam will be 1 hour 45 minutes long. (50%)

NEA (Non-Exam Assessment) 50% – The second part of the assessment will be non-examination assessment (NEA) and will consist of two tasks, involving practical work. (50%) (Contextual challenges to be released annually by Eduqas in the September of the year prior to the submission of the NEA).

Student work

Technical Skills

Final work 1

Final work 2

Congratulations to the Year 11 students on achieving 50% grades 9-4

Congratulations to the Year 11 students on achieving 55% grades 9-4.

The Food Preparation and Nutrition as a subject combines the principles of food science, nutrition and healthy eating.

It helps with developing cooking techniques, as well as knowledge of food traditions and kitchen safety. 

The subject gives a range of skills, like planning and organising, working independently, understanding and applying science and even creative skills.

It can lead to a wide range of careers. For example, designing new ice cream flavours, or working in a hotel, restaurant or tourist attraction. 

It is also helpful for working in distribution or retail for a supermarket or advising people about healthy eating as a nutritionist. Food technology combines well with biology, chemistry and business studies.

CURRICULUM MAP FOOD

A number of extra-curricular events take place within the Food Department each year which are open to all pupils in order to share the culinary skills and successes of our school community.  Pupils have been able to apply their learning, to help raise money for local charities through bake sales and soup kitchens.

TV shows:

Master chef - BBC IPLAYER, BBC ONE 

Master chef junior - BBC IPLAYER, BBC ONE 

Saturday kitchen -  BBC IPLAYER 

Sunday brunch - Channel 4 on demand

The chef show - Netflix 

Great British menu - BBC IPLAYER, BBC TWO 

Any program made by the following: Jamie Oliver, The Hairy Bikers, Heston Blumenthal, Rick Stein, James Martin or Nigella Lawson. -  CLIPS ON YOUTUBE OR BBC / CHANNEL 4 

Our aim is to enable students to express themselves through practical tasks and build a strong foundation of a wide range of practical skills across both subject areas.

We want all students to become independent learners, gaining confidence in the use of specialist equipment and terminology.

Students are encouraged to work autonomously, in groups and as a whole class when completing theory and practical tasks. We encourage creative thinking and methodical organisation and planning of the work to be undertake.

We actively promote the study of Food Preparation and Nutrition by both boys and girls to embrace the wide cultural make up of the school community, using it as a focus throughout many aspects of our learning experiences. 

The practical skills learned and knowledge gained in Food Preparation and Nutrition are true life skills and will help to build your childs confidence in the kitchen. 

WJEC

Food a Fact of Life

British Nutrition Foundation

Asda

British Dietetic Association

Dairy Crest

Food Allergy Site

Food Foundation 

Quorn

Sainsburys

Tesco

Vegetarian Organisations

Food guide