GCSE Home Economics Food and Nutrition.

GCSE Home economics offers students the opportunities to build on the skills and capabilities developed through the delivery of the Northern Ireland Curriculum at Key Stage 3. It allows students to develop their knowledge and understanding of food and nutrition and apply skills to real- life contexts.

It is assessed through one written examination paper and one controlled assessment task, both weighing 50%. Such tasks help students to develop confidence in demonstrating a high level of practical food skills.

Course Content:

Examination Board- CCEA

Useful Website-  http://www.rewardinglearning.org.uk/microsites/food_and_nutrition/

Content: Assessment Weighing
Component 1:

 

Food and Nutrition

External written assessment

Format: 2 hours

 

120 marks

 

The written paper includes multiple choice, short and structured questions, and questions requiring extended writing.

50%
Component 2:

 

Practical Food and Nutrition

 

Controlled

assessment task

 

120 marks

 

Students complete one task that involves he following:

 

  • Part A: Research and Viewpoints;
  • Part B: Justification of Choice;
  • Part C: Planning;
  • Part D: Practical Activity; and
  • Part E: Evaluation.

 

Students present the written report on the task in the required format.

 

Teachers mark the task, and CCEA moderate results.

 

50%

 

Career opportunities available using Home Economics:

  • The Food Media
    Behind every celebrity chef is a talented Home Economist who frequently goes on to present in their own right. The fast moving and exciting world of the food media includes such work as food photography, food styling, and recipe development for magazines, radio and TV.
  • Food Product Development
    Thousands of new food products appear on the supermarket shelves each year. Home Economists are an integral part of their development, marketing, publicity, testing and evaluation, at every stage from concept to launch and beyond.
  • Consumer Testing
    This work may involve design and testing of new consumer appliances or products to meet the growing demand for technical innovation for contemporary lifestyles.
  • Quality Assurance/ Control
    In order to comply with stringent UK food and consumer legislation Home Economists gain employment to ensure compliance with the range of quality assurance demands from industry and government.
  • Consumer marketing and market research – many Home Economists develop careers within marketing departments of organisations that produce or provide consumer goods or services.
  • Health Promotion
    This is an expanding area where students may gain employment in national and local community, food and health initiatives, eg 5-A-Day campaign.
  • Teacher
  • Caterer
  • Butcher
  • Waiter
  • Chef/cook
  • Confectioner
  • Consumer Adviser
  • Dietician
  • Home Care Organiser
  • Fishmonger
  • Food shop Retailer
  • Food writer/photographer
  • Health Promotion Officer
  • Trading Standards Officer
  • Environmental Health Officer
  • Fast Food Operative
  • Nutritionist
  • Restaurant Manager
  • Demonstrator
  • Careers in Food Manufacturing
  • Food Guide Inspectors
  • Food Scientist
  • Microbiologist and Nutrition) (J431)