Food & Nutrition

What is Food & Nutrition?

Food & Nutrition is a creative and practical subject that has a strong focus on designing, preparing and making a range of dishes and learning how to apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating to the foods we cook. Students acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and skills, whilst providing the opportunity to apply knowledge gained in other subject disciplines such as mathematics, science and art.

Why do we teach Food & Nutrition at Sunnydown?

We are passionate about instilling a love of cooking in our students and opening a door to one of the great expressions of human creativity. Learning how to cook is a crucial life skill and our students become competent in a range of cooking techniques so that they are able to feed themselves and others a healthy affordable diet, now and in later life. As referenced in our Curriculum Policy, this enables students to be creative and innovative, become resourceful and be enterprising and capable citizens.

How do we teach Food & Nutrition at Sunnydown?

At KS3 students have one hour lessons during Year 7 and Year 8 per week. In Year 9 students have a one and a half hour lesson per week. Students are taught to understand and apply the principles of nutrition and health whilst cooking a repertoire of predominantly savoury dishes and become competent in a range of cooking techniques including designing skills and development of ideas; practical skills and understanding of processes and techniques. They are also encouraged to sample the food they cook to develop evaluative skills and learn about sourcing ingredients, seasonality, where food comes from and the characteristics of a broad range of ingredients.

How does Food & Nutrition change at KS4?

Sunnydown students have the option of taking Food & Nutrition at KS4 and have one, two hour lesson per week. Food and Nutrition equips students with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to cook and apply the principles of food science, nutrition and healthy eating and the ability to cook independently for themselves and others. As referenced in our Curriculum Policy this develops essential life skills related to all aspects of independent living. Students will complete a Food Preparation and Cooking Final Assessment.

Which exam board syllabus do we study at KS4?

At Sunnydown, Students have the opportunity to follow the BTEC Home Cooking Skills Course at Level 1 or 2. Details of the specifications for the Pearsons BTEC course can be found here:

BTEC COURSE DETAILS

Curriculum Plans