Food Technology GCSE

Course description:

This course builds on the topics covered in Key Stage 3 Food Technology. Students will make food products on a regular basis and develop good practical skills. They will learn to handle a variety of specialist tools and equipment and make both sweet and savoury food products. All food products are made to a high quality and finish. Other practical activities include sensory analysis (tasting) of existing food products and disassembly work.

Students also test food and equipment as well as study the importance of Food Hygiene and Safety. They are given the opportunity to take an additional qualification ‘The Basic Food Hygiene Certificate’ - widely recognised in the catering and food industry. Other areas of study include nutrition, healthy eating, special diets, equipment and food legislation. Students will look at how food is produced in large quantities in the food industry.

Course structure:

Typically, students in Year 10 have 5 lessons per fortnight:
* a 2 hour lesson, enabling us to cook interesting recipes and develop students’ practical skills.
* a 1 hour lesson of theory work, sensory analysis and testing.

In Year 10 students cover major syllabus components and experience several Design tasks/Projects. Year 11 is spent on the Coursework Component and allows time for revision and exam preparation.

Homework:

Students are set 1 hour of homework each week. Homework tasks vary but often involve research of existing food products, recipe research, producing posters, producing leaflets, carrying out sensory analysis, using ICT. Students are also expected to prepare ingredients for their practical lessons.

Assessment, weighting and timings of assessments:

40% written exam - Summer Year 11.
60% Coursework - an extended Design Task that is started in the summer term of Year 10 and continues throughout the autumn & spring terms of Year 11. This involves making a selection of Food Products and a supporting portfolio.

Books, equipment, materials and resources recommended / needed:

**Students who choose Food Technology will need to provide their own ingredients regularly. They will need Kitchen scales at home - to weigh out ingredients. Students are given the opportunity to purchase a Food Hygiene Workbook in the spring term of Year 10 and a Revision Guide and Workbook in Year 11.

Opportunities for study beyond Key Stage 4:

* Students can continue their studies at Blatch 6 by studying AS/A2 Food Technology.
* They could also choose Catering Courses locally e.g.. City & Guilds, BTEC etc.

Career opportunities supported by this subject:

• Catering,
• Food Designer,
• Food Demonstrator,
• Dietician,
• Health and Fitness careers,
• Environmental Health Inspector,
• Nursing and other Health related careers.

Visit:

The British Nutrition Foundation website (careers section)