Food Science
Food Science offers hands-on opportunities to research and create, exploring healthy living, sustainability, and culinary culture.
Oracy tasks encourage students to discuss and share their learning with confidence and enthusiasm. Students can experiment with recipes, plan balanced meals, and discover the science behind cooking.
Food Science is both practical and creative, giving students skills they can use every day.
Year 7
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Research |
Read & Compare Food Labels Pick three packaged snacks or drinks at home. Compare their front-pack traffic‑light nutrition labels and ingredients lists—what’s high/low in fat, sugar, salt? Which one is the healthiest and why |
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Where Does My Food Come From? (Food) |
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Create |
Safe Knife Skills & Snack Prep |
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Plate Art Challenge Channel your inner food designer—arrange a meal or snack in a fun pattern (e.g., smiley face, flower, rainbow) and take a photo. Bonus: write one sentence on why presentation affects appetite. |
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Oracy |
Own That Recipe! |
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Recipe Review Podcast Choose a simple BBC Good Food recipe (e.g., veggie pizza, sushi rolls). Record a 1–2 minute “review” explaining what you liked, any changes you'd make, and who you’d recommend it to. |
Year 8
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Research |
Use news articles to research about the sugar tax. Find out more about how it affected companies and the changes they have made because of it: |
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Find out more about sustainable food and how to become a more conscientious consumer: Sustainable Food Trust | A global voice for sustainable food and farming |
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Create |
A dish using left overs from the fridge to reduce food wastage. Get creative with foods and flavours. 10 Leftover Recipes To Clean Out Your Fridge - The Local Palate |
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Make a new menu for school dinners that you would like to see in our canteen, consider whether it meets current healthy eating guidelines. |
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Oracy |
Make content for social media about an aspect of healthy eating, for example the benefits of green vegetables. Eat Your Greens with Dr. Black | plant-based nutrition for the whole family on Apple Podcasts |
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Talk with your friends and family about their opinions on optional diet choices such as veganism, eating high protein foods or choosing to follow a paleo diet. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these dietary choices. |
Year 9
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Research |
Teen Nutrition Needs – Learn what nutrients growing teens need (protein, fibre, vitamins) via BBC Good Food guide. Healthy eating for school‑age kids (sacredheartofmary.net, bbcgoodfood.com) |
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Ultra‑processed Foods – Read why ultra‑processed foods are harmful and how they affect mood/behaviour. Dr Chris van Tulleken on ultra‑processed food |
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Create |
DIY Frozen Yogurt – Make simple 3‑ingredient strawberry frozen yogurt at home with BBC Good Food video. How to make frozen yogurt |
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Healthy Snack Box – Assemble a snack box using a balance of protein, fruit/veg, whole grains (e.g., hummus and carrots, yogurt and berries). Take a photo & list nutrients. Healthier snacks - Food facts - Healthier Families - NHS |
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Oracy |
Jamie’s School Dinners Clip – Watch a short clip from Jamie’s School Dinners, then discuss: what changes did he make and why? Wikipedia: Jamie’s School Dinners |
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Food Swap Explanation – Summarise one simple food swap (e.g., soda → smoothie) from news article and explain how it helps health. Ultra‑processed food swaps |
KS5
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Research |
Find videos of Heston Blumenthal making food using liquid nitrogen, what are the links here to science? |
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Article of the top 10 best chefs in the world - do you agree? |
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Create |
Complete an online course in food safety. Look at the high-speed training website for details. |
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Set up a ‘come dine with me’ group with friends. |
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Oracy |
Ask a Food Science teacher to send you a copy of their dissertation to read. |
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Go to a local butcher/green grocer/bakery and interview them around the topics of supporting local, food miles and sustainability. |
