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Issues associated with teaching practical cookery in UK schools: evidence from a survey of teaching staff
conference contribution
posted on 2009-08-05, 10:27 authored by Gill ElliotThere has recently been a great deal of discussion by the
government, the media and statutory bodies about the
teaching of practical cookery in schools. This has arisen as part
of a wider concern about the food that school-aged children
consume, and recognition that there may be an overdependence
upon ready-prepared/processed meals, a growing
lack of awareness of fresh raw food products, and a decline in
basic cooking skills.
This report provides evidence to inform the current debate
about the teaching of practical cookery in schools from one of
the Awarding Bodies responsible for GCSE examinations in
Food Technology and Home Economics. As a part of a wider
investigation into practical cookery in schools a questionnaire
was devised, investigating the teaching of practical cookery
skills. The questionnaire was sent by post to 798 schools who
had entered candidates for GCSE ‘Design and Technology:
Food Technology’ and/or ‘Home Economics: Food and
Nutrition’ in 2007 and was completed and returned by 330
schools (41.3%). Analysis of the questionnaire has revealed a
number of interesting findings, including issues with teaching
time, problems with split-half classes, facilities for cooking and
storing food in school and a fall in knowledge of cooking skills.
Additionally, we have investigated the number of hours of
teaching time typically available at Key Stage 3 (KS3). At Key
Stage 4 (KS4) centres’ reasons for offering different GCSE
courses have been investigated, as well as teachers’ opinion on
the emphasis placed on practical cookery skills in the current
curriculum.
History
School
- Design
Research Unit
- D&T Association Conference Series
Citation
ELLIOT, G., 2009. Issues associated with teaching practical cookery in UK schools: evidence from a survey of teaching staff. IN: Norman, E. and Spendlove, D. (eds). The Design and Technology Association International Research Conference 2009. [Loughborough University, 30 June - 2nd July]. Wellesbourne : The Design and Technology Association, pp. 47-51Publisher
© The Design and Technology AssociationVersion
- VoR (Version of Record)
Publication date
2009Notes
This is a conference paper.ISBN
1898788855Language
- en