This year 3 students in Years 11-12 have completed their Level 1 BTEC in Home Cooking Skills. This is an important course for young people developing the life skills needed to work towards independence. Students learn to recognise the value of being able to cook nutritious and tasty meals which they can tailor to their individual tastes and match to their budgets. They also experience cooking for others - a skill that is much appreciated on the unit, in social settings and at home.
STUDENT COMMENT:
BTEC cooking was a very good experience because I got to learn loads of new cooking skills that will aide me in the future. It gets you to focus on specific skills that you can develop like chopping vegetables (I was not very good at cutting onions before), it also gets you to experiment with different spices, different flavours, and learn about recipes that you wouldn’t usually cook – e.g. I made a Malteser Tiffin and a Tofu Chow Mein. Lunch Cookery was my favourite group – I absolutely loved it. It is such a good group especially because I like to cook so I enjoyed it. It’s really nice to work with other young people and to teach and learn skills from each other. It’s nice to work as a team towards the goal of putting on a lunch each week.
- OPG -
Working with May Lee in the classroom on theoretical knowledge, planning and self-reflection, and with Amy in lunch cookery group, students develop their practical cooking skills each week, building confidence and ability so they can each complete an individual assessment. Working in a group, sudents are challenged to try foods and recipes they might not otherwise have experienced, expanding their knowledge and flavour palettes. Students are encouraged to broaden their skills and must ensure their cooking folder shows a range of recipes to include main meals, sides and baking.
The assessment requires students to be 100% independent in making their recipe from start to finish - a challenge which can result in satisfaction, pride and improved self-belief.
Students must demonstrate:
* Kitchen hygiene and safety
* The ability to follow a recipe
* Food preparation skills
* Cooking skills
* Time management
Part of the assessment includes candidates showing confidence and decision-making by choosing the recipe they would like to make in order to best showcase their skills. Students therefore have the opportunity to make an individual choice, selecting a recipe that they're excited to make and share with staff and peers. Assessing by taste-test is the best part of this qualification for teachers!
Well done to our successful L1 BTEC candidates.
Your certificates will arrive after external moderation has taken place. In the meantime, we are looking forward to seeing some of you challenge yourselves to complete L2.