What facilities are available to the department?

The Technology block offers excellent facilities for Food Technology including two superbly equipped food rooms, facilities for tasting foodstuffs, television and video equipment and opportunities to incorporate ICT into the research and development of food products. A large collection of reference text and recipe books are available for student use.

What is Food Technology in the Lower School like?

The first year of the Food Technology course develops a basic understanding of the nutritional requirements of a healthy diet through a combination of theory and practical sessions. The pupils are given information about sensible choices of school lunches. Pupils complete the Bronze section of the ‘Active Kids Get Cooking’ scheme.

The second year will extend the First Year work on the importance of proper nutrition in leading a healthy lifestyle. They will work on a range of tasks including, convenience food products and the study of various types of international cuisine. This will be supported by instruction on a range of more advanced food production techniques. Pupils complete the Silver ‘Active Kids Get Cooking’.

In the third year of the course, pupils will work on developing their practical skills further and the theory will cover various nutritional issues and food hygiene and safety. This will prepare them for further study at GCSE level. Pupils complete the Gold ‘Active Kids Get Cooking’ scheme and have the chance to enter the Rotary Young Chef Competition.

What happens further up the school?

At GCSE the AQA Food and Nutrition course is designed to enable pupils to investigate the relationship between nutrition, diet, food choice and health. It also examines the nature, function, application and implications of food processing in the home. During this course pupils will gain the Level 2 Award in Food Safety.

The A Level course is interesting and varied. It focuses on developing knowledge, skills and understanding of food, nutrition and health. The AS course comprises of welfare state, NHS, environmental issues, human resources (food, housing and money management) and food safety. The A2 course comprises of nutrition (nutrient, meal planning and food processing), with the opportunity to choose any area of interest in food for coursework.

Clubs and other activities

There is a Creative Cuisine club for First Years that will give you the opportunity to try out interesting sweet and savoury dishes. A separate club is also run, where pupils get to make their own Christmas cake. There is also the opportunity to take part in the SGS Masterchef Competition, open to First Year to Fourth Year pupils and sponsored and judged by the Heathcotes London Road Restaurant, Alderley Edge.