Cooking at Spa Bermondsey
Cooking at Spa Bermondsey supports pupils to develop practical skills in the kitchen, to become increasingly independent and to embrace and enjoy cooking. Our learning-by-doing approach to cooking makes it an interesting, creative and exciting subject. Students become familiar with a range of food preparation techniques, kitchen equipment and appliances. Students have the opportunity to make a wide variety of recipes from a range of cultures and complete modules in healthy eating, baking, seasonal cooking, preparation of food for different occasions and hygiene and safety in the kitchen. Students also develop their understanding of the nutritional value of a wide range of ingredients and of what a healthy and balanced diet looks like.
The cooking room is a creative space that offers all the facilities needed for teaching and learning. Every student in the school has access to a range of equipment and resources to enable them to develop their cooking skills (preparing non-cooked and cooked items, using equipment and appliances and working hygienically), communication skills (asking for help, requesting items, planning a recipe with an adult or peer, showing preference and developing language) and independence (following a recipe, planning a recipe, preparing and cooking food for themselves and others, developing confidence and preparing them for employment.)
In Key Stage 3 and 4 students develop their skills through a range of recipes. In Key Stage 3, there is a strong focus on food safety, food hygiene and preparing to cook. At this stage students will learn the basic kitchen skills that they need to progress, such as washing, chopping, peeling and combining. In Key Stage 4, students learn to weigh and measure ingredients, and are given opportunities to learn further food preparation techniques, such as blending, crushing, juicing, and whisking.
Our learners are encouraged to become involved in as many aspects of the cooking process as possible. We use a cooking skills checklist that is unique to Spa to carefully monitor their progress. Once proficient, students are challenged to develop their skills further to cook for themselves and others. In Key Stage 5 cooking merges with the ASDAN accredited Healthy Living course. Students develop a more in-depth knowledge of how cooking is linked to a healthy lifestyle, the principles of a healthy diet, the skills needed to make healthy meals, the nutritional needs of the body and safe and hygienic working practices. Some pupils will complete their Level 1 Health and Hygiene award which is an industry-wide standard.
In each lesson, pupils will work towards an individualised learning objective that focuses specifically on the technique being taught in that unit. Students are closely supported by staff to ensure a balance is maintained between keeping them safe when cooking and giving them opportunities and freedom to develop their skills. Our hands-on approach builds confidence when working in the kitchen environment, with food and when they are cooking.
In Key Stage 5, most students will have the opportunity to complete work experience in the School House Café. This typically involves preparing food, taking orders, serving customers, clearing tables and using the till. Some classes will also have the chance to undertake cooking sessions at The Park College, which has a fully operational kitchen and its own onsite Café, which is open to the public. Students may also gain experience here catering for events.
Learning about food, cooking, health and hygiene are important skills for life. We inspire students to develop a real interest in food and support them to learn how to prepare a snack or a meal as independently as possible.
