Learning about Food and Nutrition has never been more important than in today’s society. At Westfield, we pride ourselves on delivering this subject to all students and promote the development of practical skills and nutritional knowledge to allow them to make healthy choices in life.
• Upper 3 (Year 7) begins with health and safety, food hygiene and healthy eating before embarking on a full year of skill development - using a knife, oven, hobs and other equipment. The girls will make a range of healthy meals including pasta bake and pizza to healthier alternatives to sweet treats including muffins and cheesecake.
• Lower 4 (Year 8) sees the girls building on the skills to make more complex multicultural meals, from lasagne to curries. They design their own ‘family favourite’ dish in the summer term and the winning meal is put onto our school menu! This year really extends their subject knowledge on individual nutrients and the girls can link choices made directly to the Eatwell Guide. They will learn how to confidently modify recipes and diets for good health - and apply this in a popular way - sticky toffee pudding and carrot cake!
• Upper 4 (Year 9) is a good introduction to the GCSE course - the girls extend their food science knowledge and understanding of ingredients in food products. Higher level skills are taught, such as fresh pasta dough, pastry, meringue, bread products and deboning chicken. The girls will learn about a range of current issues in the food industry - from environmental issues to health issues. At the end of Upper 4 (Year 9), girls can opt to follow the GCSE course in Food Preparation and Nutrition. The subject is also offered in the Sixth Form as a Level 3 Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition (A level equivalent).
A wide variety of teaching and learning takes place within the department which allows all students to access the curriculum at their own level and pace. Girls who go on to study Food at GCSE or A level really enjoy the mixture of practical and theory, which is so different to many other subjects. We have had many girls go on to study Food beyond Westfield and last year two former students qualified with a First Class Degree in Food Marketing and Food and Nutrition. Both are working in prestigious jobs within the Food industry.
GCSE: Specification AQA
A level: Specification WJEC
