Health and Food Technology
Broad Description
Health & Food Technology courses at all levels offer pupils a wide variety of skills useful for all stages of life beyond school.
SQA’s Health and Food Technology National 4, National 5 and Higherqualifications provide opportunities to study the relationships between health, nutrition, the functional properties of food, lifestyle choices and consumer issues. These Courses develop an awareness of informed food and dietary choices that can have a positive effect on the health of learners and enable them to advise others. Learners also develop a range of skills and applications of food preparation techniques including planning skills; collecting evidence; applying and presenting solutions and interpreting and evaluation skills.
The Courses address contemporary issues affecting food and nutrition, including ethical and moral considerations, sustainability of sources, food production and development, and their effects on consumer choices.
Learners will be expected to carry out further reading to consolidate their knowledge and understanding and to gain practice in answering techniques. Learners will also benefit from practicing practical skills at home.
Come to school prepared for practical activities, regular attendance and meeting deadlines for paperwork. Pupils may be asked to bring one or two ingredients e.g. fresh veg and a box or dish to take their cooking home in.
Broad General Education
In S1-S3 all pupils work on the Experience and Outcomes at Level 3 and Level 4 in all subjects.
Topics covered include:
Health and Food Technology: S4 to S6
HIGHER
Course structure and conditions of award
Health and Food Technology: Food for Health (Higher)The general aim of this Unit is to develop learners’ knowledge, understanding and skills to enable them to analyse the relationship between health, food and nutrition. Learners will also analyse dietary needs for individuals at various stages of life and explain current dietary advice. Through practical activities, the learner will produce and evaluate food products which meet individual needs.
Health and Food Technology: Food Product Development (Higher)
The general aim of this Unit is to allow learners to develop knowledge and understanding of the functional properties of ingredients in food and their use in developing food products. Learners will develop an understanding of the stages involved in developing a food product. Through a problem-solving approach, learners will produce food products to meet a range of consumer needs. They will also apply knowledge and understanding of safe and hygienic food practices and techniques.
Health and Food Technology: Food Product Development (Higher)
The general aim of this Unit is to allow learners to develop knowledge and understanding of the functional properties of ingredients in food and their use in developing food products. Learners will develop an understanding of the stages involved in developing a food product. Through a problem-solving approach, learners will produce food products to meet a range of consumer needs. They will also apply knowledge and understanding of safe and hygienic food practices and techniques.
Health and Food Technology: Contemporary Food Issues (Higher)
In this Unit, learners will investigate a range of contemporary food issues. They will analyse how these issues influence decisions taken by consumers when making food choices. They will communicate their findings in an appropriate way.
Conditions of award
To gain the award of the Course, the learner must pass all the Units as well as the Course assessment. The required Units are shown in the Course outline section. Course assessment will provide the basis for grading attainment in the Course award.
Course assessment
The learner will be assessed by an assignment and a question paper. The assignment will require application of skills, knowledge and understanding from across the Units. Learners will develop a product(s) to meet a given brief. The assignment will be sufficiently open and flexible to allow for personalisation and choice.
The question paper will require integration of knowledge and understanding from across the Units.
POSSIBLE CAREER ROUTES
Consumer advice
Social services
Food Technology
Education
Dietetics
Hospitality