AQA, Eduqas and OCR offer GCSE in Food Preparation and Nutrition. They are all 50% assessed by NEAs which means they are very difficult for home educators to access. AQA states in the specification that it is not available to private candidates. OCR GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition is available through Tutors and Exams if you are studying with one of their two approved learning partners. More details are below.
Many students opt for alternative qualifications or portfolios relating to cookery. There are suggestions below.
OCR GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition[]
OCR GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition page and specification
GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition is a very practical course which means it is difficult for home educators. Tutors and Exams offer this GCSE through one of two approved learning partners (see resources for details). If you find a tutor offering this GCSE, do check what the arrangements are for NEAs and exams before signing up with a course. It is essential to have an agreement between course provider and exam centre in place before you start studying.
OCR says: "Our GCSE in Food Preparation and Nutrition equips students with the knowledge, understanding and skills to be able to feed themselves and others better. Students develop practical cookery skills and techniques as they explore the underlying principles of food science, nutrition, food traditions and food safety."
Exams from: June 2018
- Available in June
- Specification code: J309
Subject content[]
There are 4 sections to the course:
- Section A: Nutrition
- Section B: Food: food provenance and food choice
- Section C: Cooking and food preparation
- Section D: Skills requirements: preparation and cooking technique
Assessment[]
There qualification is 50% practical assessments
- Paper 1 - Food Preparation and Nutrition - 1 hr 30mins - 100 marks - 50%
- Written examination paper with a range of question types
- Covers all content
- NEA - Food Investigation Task - 45 marks - 15%
- Candidates are provided with two set tasks of which they must choose one.
- Candidates are required to investigate and evaluate the working characteristics, functional and chemical properties of ingredients identified in the set tasks.
- Candidates are required to produce a written report of 1500–2000 words.
- Photographs and/or visual recordings must be provided that support the investigation.
- NEA - Food Preparation Task - 3hrs - 105 marks - 35%
- Candidates are required to prepare, cook and present a menu of three complete dishes within a single period of no more than 3 hours.
- Candidates are required to produce evidence to explain the planning, preparation, execution and evaluation of the menu and to demonstrate the application of technical skills.
Resources[]
Course providers[]
GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition must be done through a course provider who has a partnership with an exam centre. Currently the following providers are known to to offer this GCSE as a one year course, with weekly lessons online and 2 practical NEAs which candidates have to attend their premises for (one in November/December and the other in February/March). A written exam is taken in June at Tutors and Exams exam centres.
The Farm Cookery School, based in Wiltshire
Worship Worth Experiences, located near Sutton Coldfield
Textbooks and other resources[]
OCR Food Preparation and Nutrition Student Book
Course companion from Zigzag Education
My Revision Notes: OCR Food Prep
OCR have lots of free topic packs and resources
Written for a different spec but Eduqas resources are worth exploring
Sample papers, along with exemplars and previous NEA tasks can be found here. Past papers and mark schemes are available freely online here.
Comments from HE parents who have done this GCSE[]
"This is an intensive course. If you want to prepare in advance then download the practical skills list from the OCR spec and practice them at home during regular cooking. You can usually obtain the coursebook cheaply secondhand and do some of the more fun practical activities at home yourselves. I'd also suggest familiarising your child with the scientific method as designing your own scientific experiment with food is what NEA1 focuses on. The British Nutrition Foundation has an excellent website where you can learn more about food preparation and nutrition in general."
NCFE Level 1 or 2 in Creative Craft[]
These are a popular alternative to the GCSE. Offered by Technology Triumphs, an organisation which has been providing courses for home-educated and EOTAS learners and is able provide to distance learning based qualifications across the country. Assessment is by portfolio evidenced by photos.
Specifications for the qualification are linked below. It is possible to do general NCFE Creative Craft or a particular route. Technology Triumphs offer both Leve 1 and Level 2 (GCSE level difficulty) for Cookery or Cake Decorating as well as other creative pathways.
NCFE Level 1 Award in Creative Craft
NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Creative Craft
You should always contact your intended college/provision to see if they are willing to accept these qualification in place of GCSE. Many are willing but it is encouraged to receive this confirmation in writing and contact them before committing to an alternative provider course.
Alternatives[]
Alternatives which you can do from home education:
- Build a food tech portfolio with photos of meals you have prepared and write-ups,
- Food hygiene certificates can be taken online from home, are cheap, and demonstrate some commitment.
- Distance-learning courses or free online courses in food and cookery
- Local businesses will often run courses for the public, such as an artisan bakery
Classes and online courses[]
Courses in food tech, nutrition or cookery can help to build a portfolio showing your commitment to the subject, whether they are carried out online or face-to-face. There are plenty of self-directed courses available online, eg free online courses in Food and Nutrition on Alison.com or Cooking Courses on FutureLearn.
Face to face classes may have age restrictions, but these can sometimes be waived if accompanied by an adult.
Local councils may offer Food Hygiene certificates or they can be studied online.
Building a Food Tech Portfolio[]
Plan your own menus and cook the dishes. Take photos. Write up what you did. You could follow the format of the GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition project from AQA, for example. This gives you a portfolio which you can show to college tutors to demonstrate your commitment to the subject.
College at 14-16[]
Some colleges accept 14-16 year-olds to study vocational subjects, which may include catering or food tech. What's available varies by area, but it can include:
Part-time classes for home-educated teenagers[]
Any Further Education college can accept home-ed teenagers to fill empty places in its classes part-time, but many aren't aware of this. See College for 14-16 year olds for details. Once you've read this, you could contact the catering department of your local college and ask to speak to the course tutors. If they are prepared to accept your child on to the course part-time, you can then approach the administrative department with the funding information on the page above.
Full-time college at 14-16[]
A small number of Further Education colleges nationwide offer a full-time course for 14-16 year-olds who would otherwise be at school. Colleges have to meet certain conditions to be allowed to do this and it is a major undertaking for them. You can read more about the differences between this scheme and the home-ed part-time scheme on the College for 14-16 year olds page. A list of the colleges which currently offer 14-16 recruitment is available via the Department for Education.
Apprenticeships[]
Apprenticeships are strictly for ages 16+ and there are many available in catering, with large chain firms more likely to offer a structured education and career path. Some catering employers offer a full range of apprenticeships all the way up to a degree apprenticeship - read about them on the Apprenticeships page.
Some colleges offer 'pre-apprenticeship' courses, which are intended to build up skills for people who want to be apprentices but aren't ready for a job yet. These are usually aimed at ages 16+.