Design & Technology: Food Preparation at KS4

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If you require any further information about the curriculum we are following in this subject, please contact the Head of Department.

Course ID

AQA 8585

Faculty

Design & Technology

Department

Food & Textiles

Level

Key Stage 4 (GCSE)

Head of Faculty

C. Roncarati

Head of Department

J. Budden

GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition is an exciting course that focuses on practical cooking skills to ensure students develop an in-depth understanding of nutrition, food provenance and the working characteristics of ingredients.

Year 10 is centred around developing students’ practical skills and confidence in the kitchen. The students will study food, nutrition and health, food science and food safety. They will also have the opportunity to practice non-exam assessment style projects in preparation for their final year examinations. Homework is set once a week to support the theory covered in class, to help build on practical skills at home, and develop their exam technique.

In Year 11, students will use all the skills and knowledge developed in Year 10 to produce their Food Investigation Task (NEA1) and their Food Preparation Task (NEA2) in which they can showcase their array of culinary techniques! Before, finally completing their summer written exam.

Curriculum Termly Breakdown by Year

Year 10

Term	Unit of Work	Assessment
Autumn 1	Chapter 1: Nutrients. Chapter 2: Nutritional needs and health. Chapter 4: Functional and chemical properties of food. Focused practical tasks linking to the theory of each macronutrient and micronutrient.	Homework tasks – practice exam questions. Online textbook quizzes. Self-assessment / green pen tasks. End of term theory tests. Ongoing teacher / peer / self-assessment.
Autumn 2	Chapter 1: Nutrients. Chapter 2: Nutritional needs and health. Chapter 4: Functional and chemical properties of food. Focused practical tasks linking to the theory of each macronutrient and micronutrient.	Homework tasks – practice exam questions. Online textbook quizzes. Self-assessment / green pen tasks. End of term theory tests. Ongoing teacher / peer / self assessment.
Spring 1	Mock NEA1 – Investigate the use of raising agents in baked products.	NEA teacher assessed.
Spring 2	Chapter 2: Nutritional needs and health. Chapter 3: Cooking of food and heat transfer. Focused practical skills.	Ongoing teacher / peer / self-assessment. Homework tasks.
Summer 1	Mock NEA2 – Food Preparation Task.	NEA teacher assessed.
Summer 2	Mock NEA2 – Food Preparation Task.	Year 10 mock Exam.

Year 11

Term	Unit of Work	Assessment
Autumn 1	NEA1 – Food Investigation Task (15% of final grade). The food investigation will assess students’ understanding of the working characteristics, functional and chemical properties of ingredients. Practical investigations are a compulsory element of this NEA task. The student must submit a written report (1,500–2,000 words) including photographic evidence of the practical investigations will be submitted for 15% of their GCSE.	NEA.
Autumn 2	NEA2 – Food Preparation Task (35% of final grade). The food investigation task will assess students’ knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to the planning, preparation, cooking, presentation of food and application of nutrition related to the chosen task. Students will prepare, cook and present a final menu of three dishes within a single period of no more than three hours, planning in advance how this will be achieved. (3hr practical exam). The student must submit a written portfolio including photographic evidence. Photographic evidence of the three final dishes must be included in this for 35% of their GCSE grade.	NEA. GCSE mock exam.
Spring 1	NEA2 – Food Preparation Task.	NEA.
Spring 2	NEA2 – Food Preparation Task.	NEA. 3 hour practical exam.
Summer 1	Revise topics: Chapter 5: Food Spoilage and Contamination. Chapter 6: Principles of Food Safety. Chapter 7: Factors affecting Food Choice. Chapter 10: Environmental Impact and Sustainability. Chapter 11: Processing and Production. Exam preparation including review of theory books and sample questions carried out.	Exam questions.
Summer 2	GCSE Examination.	GCSE Examination.

Extended Learning

Year 10

Websites	Read	Visit or Watch	Extra
YouTube for tutorials.	Textbook: AQA GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition (Anita Tull and Garry Littlewood), Illuminate Publishing, 2016; Recipe books.	Great British Bake Off; Master Chef; any cookery shows; Seneca Learning.	Lunchtime clubs that support classwork. Practice recipes at home. Practice accuracy weighing ingredients.

Year 11

Websites	Read	Visit or Watch	Extra
YouTube for tutorials.	Textbook: AQA GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition (Anita Tull and Garry Littlewood), Illuminate Publishing, 2016; Recipe books.	Great British Bake Off; Master Chef; any cookery shows; Seneca Learning.	Lunchtime clubs that support classwork. Practice recipes at home. Practice accuracy weighing ingredients.