Food & Nutrition

The Food and Nutrition department at Badminton seeks to inspire a lifelong enthusiasm for food—its preparation, enjoyment, and the wider role it plays in our lives.

Alongside practical cookery skills, pupils explore the social, cultural, and environmental issues surrounding food, helping them to become informed and discerning consumers. Studying cuisines from around the world broadens their awareness of different traditions and techniques, while encouraging curiosity and creativity in the kitchen.

In Year 8, pupils spend half a year developing essential skills in food safety, hygiene, and basic preparation, including how to cater for a variety of dietary needs. By Year 9, they can choose to continue for the full year, applying nutritional knowledge through a wide range of cooking methods. By the end of the course, pupils are confident in producing balanced meals both for themselves and others. Beyond the classroom, cookery clubs across the Lower School further nurture enjoyment, confidence, and experience in working with food.

GCSE

At GCSE, we follow the OCR Food Preparation and Nutrition specification. This course combines theory and practice to develop independence, resilience, and critical thinking about health, diet, sustainability, and food choices. Learners gain valuable transferable skills for further study, future employment, and lifelong healthy living. They also build confidence, creativity, and cultural awareness through exploring global cuisines and food traditions, ensuring a well-rounded and engaging approach to the subject.