Home Economics GCSE
At Key Stage 4, Home Economics involves students in the study of nutrition, food choice, diet and health within the context of home and family. It encourages knowledge and understanding of current nutritional advice, the nutritional needs of family members throughout the life cycle and of diet-related conditions such as cancers and coronary heart disease. The course seeks to encourage students to think critically, make informed choices, develop practical food skills and manage resources so they are enabled to lead effective lives as individuals and family members as well as members of the wider community.
COURSE CONTENT
The subject content is organised into two teaching and learning sections, namely, DIET AND HEALTH, and CONSUMER AWARENESS. Pupils will study both sections of subject content.
DIET AND HEALTH
This GCSE course is essentially a study of food and nutrition. Half of the teaching time is devoted to this section of the syllabus.
Content includes:
· Classification, sources and functions of the main nutrient groups;
· Nutritional needs of individuals;
· Dietary disorders;
· Current nutritional advice;
· Planning healthy diets;
· Special diets;
· Effect of storage, preparation and cooking on nutrients;
· Convenience foods, super foods, nano foods, fast foods and fortified foods;
· Food labelling;
· Food safety.
CONSUMER AWARENESS
Pupils are encouraged to recognise how choices can be influenced by personal, social, economic and environmental factors. Content includes:
· shopping and marketing;
· Factors influencing consumer choice;
· Money matters;
· Consumer information;
· Consumer protection and legislation.
ASSESSMENT
TERMINAL EXAMINATION (40%): One exam paper (1 ½ hrs).
INTERNALLY ASSESSED ASSIGNMENT (60%): Two Controlled Assessment Tasks:
Diet and Health Task (40%): Pupils have to plan, prepare and evaluate at
least three dishes relating to a specific task. Pupils must prepare the three dishes in 2 hours 30 minutes maximum under exam conditions.
Consumer Awareness Task (20%): Pupils will carry out a research task (3000 words maximum).
