Welcome to Hall Mead School Food and Textiles Technology Department

Food and Textiles Technology is taught to all pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 and at GCSE in Years 10 and 11 for those who opted for it within the design and Technology option block. The general aim of the department is to develop pupils awareness of themselves, their needs, other peoples needs and environment. We also want to teach all pupils where their food comes from, how to make informed food choices and understand how much of the food products they consume on daily basis is manufactured and produced.

Food and Textiles Technology is taught within 2 well equipped food rooms. Both rooms are designed to hold up to 20 pupils, with shared work areas including cookers and sinks. The pages on this site aim to explain the concept of Food and Textiles Technology, how we can support our pupils and share our schemes of work.

As a department we supply all necessary equipment for all practical tasks. We do, however, ask for a small contribution of £3 in Years 7 & 8 to cover the cost of materials such as washing up liquid, tin foil, greaseproof paper, herbs, spices, oil, etc. In Year 9 we ask for a contribution of £7.50 - £6 is towards the cost of entry into the Basic Food Hygiene Certificate (the department contributes the remaining half of the cost), with the remaining money towards cost of basic materials we provide.

What is Food Technology?

Food Technology is about the development of food products to be manufactured and sold to a consumer.

It is taught through the Design and Technology National Curriculum.

There are five key stages to the process of designing and making:

Investigating a need or design opportunity.
Creating design proposals
Planning design proposal
Making
Evaluating the effectiveness of the product and process

The use of ICT

Throughout the designing and making process, pupils will make use of information and communication technology (ICT) to help them learn.

For example they may:

• Use a spreadsheet to model the cost of a product
• Use the internet to find out about special diets
• Use a database to investigate the nutritional value of specific ingredients.

Designing and making food products is carried out through various activities in the classroom based around four main areas of study.

How can you support your child’s learning in Food Technology?

• Through providing them with the necessary ingredients they may need for a practical lesson

• Collect leaflets, labels, magazines and brochures about food

• Survey existing products in the supermarket

• Encourage your child to explore a wide range of foods eg multi cultural foods

• Take part in the tasting and evaluating of food products by your child

• Encourage your child to cook at home for family and friends

• Talk to your child about their food projects and help them with ideas for developing a particular recipe

• Help find out the cost of ingredients

• If possible, encourage the use of the computer and the internet to support your child’s work.

As a department we supply all necessary equipment for all practical tasks. We do, however, ask for a small contribution of £3 in Years 7 & 8 to cover the cost of materials such as washing up liquid, tin foil, greaseproof paper, herbs, spices, oil, etc. In Year 9 we ask for a contribution of £7.50 - £6 is towards the cost of entry into the Basic Food Hygiene Certificate (the department contributes the remaining half of the cost), with the remaining money towards cost of basic materials we provide.

What careers can your child pursue if he/she is interested in Food Technology?

The area of Food Technology offers a wide choice of careers that can lead to employment in worlds of work as divers as science, production, management, marketing and teaching. Below is a list of a few of those opportunities:

• Research and Food Product Development – devising exciting new products and improving existing ones
• Quality assurance – checking food products at all points in the production process to make sure they are up to the industry’s standard
• Production – the manufacturing process itself – the biggest area of employment in the industry
• Food Marketing – making sure the right product is promoted to the right people at the right time
• Food Scientist – investigates food technology and food chemistry to continually improve and extend the ranges of food materials
• Purchasing – finding the right ingredients to make a perfect product
• Home Economist – professional advisers on food and home management providing a link between consumers and providers – as teachers, advisers or demonstrators they educate the public on the goods and services provided for use in the home
• Environmental Health Officer – concerned with maintaining and improving safe, healthy living and working conditions for everyone
• Dietician – gives advice on diet and nutrition to both sick and healthy people in a variety of settings
• Food Technologist – concerned with the chemistry, biology and nutritional content of foods under different conditions eg during processing, storage, distribution and sales
• Food Technology Teacher – teaching part of the Design and Technology curriculum in schools or within further or higher education sector
• Health Promotion/Education Specialist – working towards improving the health of individuals or communities.