Food & Cookery
Why do we teach Food and Cookery?
We teach food and coookery because growing evidence suggests that food literacy and skills education programs lead to greater confidence in performing practical food skills, such as planning and preparing meals, interpreting food labels, basic food safety, food regulations. This, in turn, is associated with healthier dietary choices and at ACE Schools we want to equip pupils with essential skills for life.
“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
Intent
Food is a vital part of our daily lives and is essential for life. As our students become adults and have busy lives, it is easy to choose food which has been readily prepared. However, it is more nutritious and often cheaper to cook simple, delicious meals. Food qualifications give pupils the opportunity to develop lifelong skills, and knowledge that lays the foundation for them to make healthier choices. Students will develop their knowledge and understanding of nutrition, healthy eating, food preparation, hygiene, cooking techniques and sensory characteristics.
Implementation
The curriculum is mainly skills based, under pinned by the core competencies of food and nutrition, which sets out a progressive framework of key knowledge and skills. Pupils will learn to understand the relationship between diet, nutrition and health. They will learn how to make food safely and to cater for a variety of dietary needs. They will explore ethical, cultural, and economic influences on food, exploring a range of ingredients developing sensory analysis vocabulary allowing them to give and respond to feedback. Pupils are encouraged to buy into the underlying teaching and learning principles which aim to improve the health, wellbeing and motivation of both staff and students as well as connecting with parents and their local community.
Impact
The curriculum has been designed to ensure students have fun and experience success whilst cooking a range of dishes. An implicit aim is for pupils to benefit from social interactions and wellbeing that comes when we share food with others and take the time to build relationships and happy memories. Pupils who study catering at ACE School leave with a more educated palette and the confidence to cook for themselves and try new foods.
Career ideas:
KS2: National Curriculum
KS3: National Curriculum
KS4: NCFE Level 1 Food and Cookery Certificate
Catering - Functional Skills English (Levels 1 and 2) - BBC Bitesize
NCFE Level 1 Certificate in Food and Cookery Skills | NCFE
Curriculum Plans:
