Food & Nutrition
Our Food Preparation and Nutrition department promotes creativity, independence and informed decision-making through the study of food, nutrition and health.
Curriculum Intent
At Poole High School, our Food Preparation and nutrition curriculum encourages students to develop practical cookery skills alongside a secure understanding of the principles of nutrition, enabling them to make informed choices that support lifelong health and wellbeing.
Through engaging and hands-on learning experiences, students develop the confidence to prepare, cook and adapt a wide range of dishes safely and competently. They learn how ingredients function, how nutritional needs vary across different groups, and how food choices can impact both individual health and wider society. Practical work is at the heart of the curriculum, allowing students to apply their knowledge in meaningful and relevant contexts.
We aim to equip students with the practical skills, nutritional knowledge and confidence needed to live independently and make positive lifestyle choices. Through creativity, problem-solving and informed decision-making, students develop essential life skills that prepare them for further study, future employment and healthy living in the 21st century.
Key Stage 3
During their year 7, 8 and 9 lessons, students will have the opportunity to explore the principles of design and technology within Food Technology. Alongside designing and making, students will study cooking and nutrition covering how to cook and apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating.
Students will learn a repertoire of predominately savoury dishes providing them with a range of cooking techniques and skills that they can use through life. The principles of nutrition will be applied to dishes through the course of Years 7, 8 and 9 through the teaching of The Eatwell Guide, the 5-a-Day Campaign and the government guidelines for healthy eating. Seasonality and a broad range of dishes will be made covering a wide range of cuisines from British, Asian to Italian.
Key Stage 4
Studying the GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition course at Poole High School will get you working with different ingredients and learning basic and high-level food preparation skills such as pastry making, meat handling and presentation techniques and give a strong understanding of nutrition. You will learn how to prepare food hygienically and safely and apply this to practical work.
Food Preparation and Nutrition is a practical and theory-based subject where you will learn about the principles of nutrition and food hygiene which will inform your practical-based work. You will learn the functional and chemical properties of ingredients and why ingredients are added to certain products. You will also investigate what affects consumer choice when buying and preparing food and different cuisines from around the world.
Key Stage 5
