Food technology stimulates creativity and innovation and it is interesting and enjoyable. If you have enjoyed working with food as a material in years 7 and 8 and gained good level assessments for your folder work and practical work then you should certainly consider opting for food technology GCSE. Food technology is a very popular option. It can lead to exciting and well-paid career opportunities in the food industry. The food industry is expanding all of the time and is one of the largest employers in the UK. Food technologists are much sought after and it is estimated that there are three jobs for every graduate leaving university. Having a food technology qualification can lead to careers in: food marketing, product development, diet-related industries and more. One of the main reasons that the subject is so popular is because the skills learnt can be used for the rest of your life:
- Problem solving and decision-making skills
- Research skills such as carrying out questionnaires and sensory analysis
- A whole range of practical cooking skills
- Teamwork and information and communication skills as well as independent skills
- Personal skills such as managing time and resources, being organised
The new AQA food technology specification looks at food technology from a very practical point of view – you will have lots of opportunities to cook and to create your own products. You will:
- Learn about foods, ingredients, processes and techniques
- Experiment, investigate and test products
- Be creative and design new products
- Understand how to develop a product in a test kitchen
- Have insight into how products are made in industry
- Understand about diets and health
- Make choices as a consumer
Food technology involves working in the same way as a food technologist works in industry. The food technology room becomes the test kitchen. You will be designing and making a wide range of products and developing your making skills but you will also have the opportunity to design and make different food products.
Your GCSE grade will be awarded as a result of completing two units of work;
Unit 1
A two-hour written examination worth 40% 0f the total marks which will require you to apply what you have learned during the course in an examination situation.
Unit 2
A coursework project (Controlled Test) which involves answering a design task and designing and making a food product; this is worth 60% of the total marks.
For more information, please see Mrs Carter in the food technology department
