Our vision is to motivate and engage students by providing opportunities for them to explore real problems related to healthy eating, family life and independent living. Students 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.
Home Economics is part of the curriculum for all students at key stage 3. Students have access to two periods each week which includes practical and theory lessons.
The following topics include:
Healthy Eating
Home and Family Life
Independent Living
A range of key stage 4 courses are provided by the Home Economics Department which are tailored to each students’ specific academic needs.
GCSE Home Economics Food and Nutrition
GCSE Food and Nutrition specification includes topics such as 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.
Students will learn about the nutritional content of foods and how to meet the specific nutritional and dietary needs of different groups of people. To do this, they modify recipes and plan, prepare and cook meals and dishes that reflect current government nutritional guidelines. They also study how to be an effective consumer in food choices, food safety and managing resources.
GCSE Child Development
Child Development focuses on the study of the physical, social, intellectual and emotional development of young children from conception to the age of five years.
It encourages students to develop knowledge, understanding and skills, including practical skills, in these key areas:
GCSE Health and Social Care
The CCEA GCSE Health and Social Care specification provides opportunities for students to develop a broad knowledge and understanding of what is required for working in the health, social care and early years sectors.
Specific topics covered include:
Occupational Studies Food Preparation
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. It is suitable for those who are interested in child development and who would like to work with children in the future.
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.
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.
The Home Economics departments run a regular cookery club for key stage 3 students.
In addition, the Home Economics departments organises trips and visits to local food and catering businesses in Antrim.
Parkhall Integrated College Vision Statement
