Home Economics
Home economics is taught by two members of staff and supported by classroom assistants.
The aims of the department are to:
- To cultivate a positive attitude towards health and well being
- To discriminate in the choice of materials and resources related to home economics
- To enable pupils to develop initiative and cooperation to work with others
- To encourage inventiveness, originality and academic rigour
- To develop analytical skills
- To develop a critical approach to government initiatives regarding eating habits and trends
- To help pupils adapt to rapid technological changes and the growth of scientific knowledge
Food and nutrition is taught in years 7-9 and is taught in groups of not more than twenty with practical work making up a high proportion of the time.
Teaching and learning is all food and nutrition based, emphasising the sound understanding of nutritional guidelines. The topics studied include:
- The practical skills necessary for the safe and correct preparation of foods
- The balance of good health
- Meal planning for specific groups e.g. vegetarians, adolescents and young children
- The importance of protein and staple foods in the diet
- The importance of key nutrients in the diet
- The effective use of computer software to analyse diets
In addition pupils complete an individual research task which incorporates both practical skills and theoretical knowledge.
Year 10 and 11 girls can opt to follow AQA Food and Nutrition for GCSE. Outside speakers are invited into school to reinforce classroom teaching for the GCSE course. GCSE groups visit The Good Food Show in November each year.
In year 10 pupils are able to complete a food hygiene course, which is sponsored by the Environmental Health Department.
Examination results in this subject are excellent. All candidates entered in 2008 and 2009 gained A* or A grades.
In year 13 the pupils have the opportunity to take a practical food course, which considers feeding themselves healthily at university.
