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Home Economics

Key Stage 3

Home Economics is part of the curriculum for all pupils at Key Stage 3.

  • We motivate and engage pupils by providing opportunities for them to explore real problems related to Healthy eating, Family Life and Independent Living.
  • Pupils develop practical skills in the safe, hygienic, healthy and creative use of foods to enable them to plan, prepare, cook and serve a range of dishes.

Key Stage 4

A range of Key Stage 4 courses are provided by the Home Economics Department which are tailored to each pupil’s specific academic needs.

GCSE Home Economics Food and Nutrition

Food and Nutrition specification encourages students to develop knowledge and understanding of the science behind food.

  • Topics include food provenance, food processing and production, macronutrients and micronutrients, government nutritional guidelines, and food safety.
  • Students develop practical skills in food preparation, cooking and presentation.

GCSE Child Development.

Child Development is a broad, coherent course on the development of babies and small children (0–5 years). It encourages students to develop knowledge, understanding and skills, including practical skills, in these key areas:

  • pregnancy, childbirth and caring for a newborn baby
  • the responsibilities involved in parenting and other family roles
  • the social, physical, intellectual, communication and emotional development of small children, including their dietary, health and educational needs.

Occupational Studies Food Preparation

Pupils study two units Patisserie and Baking, and Contemporary Cuisine which is equivalent to one GCSE.

These units provide learners with some of the basic baking principles required by pastry chefs in the catering industry and cooks and chefs in the catering industry when preparing and cooking a range of starters, main courses and desserts.

Occupational Studies Care

This course focuses on the understanding of working in health, social care and children’s and young people’s settings.

Key Stage 5

BTEC Health and Social Care & BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate

The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Health and Social Care aims to provide an introduction the sector. It is for learners who are interested in learning about the health and social care sector as part of a balanced study programme. It is equivalent in size to one A Level.

The qualification supports access to a range of higher education courses possibly, but not exclusively, in health and social care, if taken alongside further Level 3 qualifications. The qualification typically makes up one–third of a study programme.

The mandatory content of the qualification incorporates topics relevant across the health and social care sector:

• Human Lifespan Development

• Working in Health and Social Care

• Meeting Individual Care and Support Needs.

Learners selects one optional unit “Supporting Individuals with Additional Needs” that covers the biological and sociological topics relevant to the different parts of the sector to support their progression to specialised degree programmes in the sector.

BTEC Level 3 National Diploma Double Award

The Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Health and Social Care accounts for two-thirds of a two-year, full-time study programme for learners who are intending to go onto further University study in a related sector. It is equivalent in size to two A Level. In addition, employers and professional bodies have been involved in order to confirm that the content is also appropriate for those interested in working in the sector.

Learners taking this qualification will study six mandatory units:

• Human Lifespan Development

• Working in Health and Social Care

• Meeting Individual Care and Support Needs

• Principles of Safe Practice in Health and Social Care

• Enquiries into Current Research in Health and Social Care

• Promoting Public Health.

Learners cover two additional units “Supporting Individuals with Additional Needs” and “Nutritional Health” that cover the biological or sociological topics relevant to the different parts of the sector to support their progression to specialised degree programmes in the sector.

Parkhall Integrated College Vision Statement

‘To provide an inclusive, caring learning environment where we all feel valued and respected and are empowered to reach our full potential’