Intent

At Cardrew Court School we aim to provide a safe, positive learning environment where our pupils feel they belong, can believe in themselves, developing confidence and resilience as learners. We support them to achieve the desired outcomes to be successful in their next steps on the path to the world of work and independence, well-prepared for life and adulthood, who are keen to make a difference to the world they live in.

Food plays a fundamental role in our health and wellbeing. Being able to cook is an essential life skill. Our home cooking curriculum is designed to engage learners' interest in food through a combination of theory and practical experience.  We aim to support learners’ practice and secure cookery skills and go on to enjoy making food for themselves, their school community and family at home. Our curriculum encourages learners to cook and enables them to make informed decisions about a wide range of further learning opportunities and career pathways as well as develop vital life skills that enable them to feed themselves and others affordably and nutritiously, now and later in life.

Implementation

Our curriculum is underpinned with knowledge and understanding about food preparation techniques, source to place, nutrition, food groups, hygiene and food safety. There is a progressive approach to cooking skills and a variety of recipes, so learners experience a broad and balanced curriculum of recipes and skill progression.

Our recipes are taken from a variety of sources including: 

 

We base our skills progression on the Let’s get Cooking Skills chart. It focusses and develops the following skills:

• Read, understand and follow a recipe,
• Weigh and Measure
• Prepare
• Cook
• Cool
• Prepare to Serve
• Tidy Up and Clear Away

During Key Stage 3, learners commence the BTEC ‘Home Cooking Skills’ Level 1 curriculum where they develop further skills and independence when cooking. 

On the completion of the level 1 curriculum, learners move onto level 2 and continue to build their cookery skills and independence. 

Impact

Our food curriculum prepares pupils to have sufficient knowledge and skills to be prepared for cooking in their everyday life and personal journey beyond school. They learn a crucial life skill that enables them to not only cook independently but affordably and healthily, now and in later life.

Accreditations will allow them to progress to the next stage of their chosen path to independence and stage in their lives.

The food curriculum can also be utilised to support a career in food, be it in further education, apprenticeship or joining the world of work.

Careers in Food

The food and drink industry is made up of a broad range of careers, which all require different skills and interests. It looks set to grow quickly as global demand for our products increases.