Food Technology

In Food Technology, we design a curriculum that is accessible and supportive to all students, maximising the development of every young person’s ability, skill and academic achievement. Our curriculum is rich in both skills and knowledge, enabling students to apply their learning to other subjects and real-world contexts. We strive to engage all students and equip them with the skills, knowledge and qualifications that will open doors in further education, employment and life beyond school. Our aim is for students to be confident in their own abilities and competent with the practical and transferable skills learnt in the kitchen, developing an understanding of the subject that strengthens ties to their culture, community and interests. Within the wider community and around school, Food Technology works closely with PE and Outdoor Education to reinforce how food fuels our bodies and to develop first-hand understanding of where our food comes from.

It is important that the subject works alongside our school’s core values of ‘RESPECT’. We aim for students to demonstrate responsibility in the kitchen, particularly around hygiene and safety, whilst feeling a sense of empowerment as they become more knowledgeable and independent. Food Technology offers an alternative to academic core subjects, giving students a sense of belonging by allowing them more freedom around what they want to cook and prioritising what they wish to learn, which promotes independence and builds confidence. Personalised learning is central to our lessons, with pupils in all pathways based on their ability, ensuring each lesson is accessible and accommodated accordingly. In our theory lessons, we aim to build empathy and understanding of where our food comes from, enabling students to understand the impact the food industry has on our world and to make informed decisions about sustainability and ethical food choices. We want our young people to consistently produce high-quality work in both practical and theory sessions that they can be proud of, whilst building tolerance through lessons where cooking takes time, requires patience, and sometimes things go wrong, providing opportunities to build resilience, develop character and self-improvement.

Our curriculum is coherently planned and sequenced so that pupils build knowledge and skills progressively, prioritising ‘keeping up’ rather than ‘catching up’ and quickly addressing any identified gaps in pupils’ knowledge. Teaching is delivered in ways that are accessible to all pupils, including those with SEND, with subject-specific adaptations such as lowering benches where needed and creating buddy systems so pupils can work together effectively. Through our Food Technology curriculum, pupils develop the knowledge and skills they need for the next stage of their lives, gaining practical life skills including the ability to prepare healthy meals, understand nutrition, and make informed choices about food that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Meet The Team