Food Science

 

 

Hall Grove aims to provide a rounded education which includes personal health and diet. Many of the hygiene, safety and food groups are areas that cross over with PSHE and Science.

The curriculum has been designed to increase confidence and knowledge within a safe and hygienic domestic environment - with an element of fun too! The Upper School are timetabled for an hour per week where they start with experimental cooking classes and tasting sessions based around healthy foods.

There is a strong repetition of the importance of five-a-day - the government RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) initiative for  the healthy eating of fruit and vegetables, as well as introducing old-fashioned techniques such as creaming ingredients for a well aerated sponge cake and how to cut an onion. By the time the children leave Year 8 they have created a valuable repertoire of healthy snacks, main course meals and desserts.

There are Fun Food clubs available three times a week catering for the younger children to introduce them to the joys of being in the kitchen, creating tasty snacks and even learning the art of washing up! For more infomation on clubs is available from the School Office.

New in 2010 was the building of an outdoor pizza oven, which has proved most enjoyable for all age groups. We ran a Hall Grove 'Masterchef' competition for Year 8 which allowed all the children to show off their culinary skills. The tasting panel (select staff and our school chef) were very impressed with the two course meals prepared by the boys and girls - from initial menu design on Microsoft Publisher through ingredient selection, food preparation, cookery techniques, to final meal presentation. The event was a huge success, and expectations are already running high for next year's event.