A warm welcome back, PGHS!

Throughout Key Stage 3, we are starting off this first rotation with learning the principles of health and safety. Students have been identifying the health, hygiene and safety hazards in the ‘Grime Scene’ set up in the Food room, testing their knowledge on a very important aspect of preparing, cooking and serving food. 

Year 11 are conducting a ‘fun-a-food’ science investigation in preparation for their NEA1 (Non-exam Assessment 1 – Food Science Investigation). Their task is to bake the perfect chocolate chip cookie. To do this they will need to research how cookies are made, what ingredients are used and the functional and chemical properties of these ingredients.  They will also research different methods of preparing and baking the cookies. Lots of taste testing will be happening. Will they find the ultimate method to make the perfect chocolate chip cookie?  

Miss Scott

Head of Food and Nutrition

Year 7

Year 7’s composite task this year was to plan, create and evaluate pizza toast for a children’s party.  Students used cooking cutters to cut out the bread and used lots of different vegetables to make a nutritious snack.

Year 10

Year 10 completed their mock NEA2 this summer term.  This is a challenging task for the students as they complete 3 dishes within 3 hours.  It was a great success with may students realising their potential and now knowing they can push themselves further and complete more complex dishes next year in their GCSE exam.  Well done Year 10!  As you can see from the photographs, students were completely focused and hard at work to complete this task!

Year 11

Year 11 will be very much missed by Miss Scott. These are Miss Scott’s first GCSE class at Penwortham Girls’ High School. To celebrate their final practical lesson the students practiced exam question on cake making, and explaining why a cake may go wrong! They then made a cake in groups as a competition. Here you can see the winning cake!

Good Bye Year 11! As you can see they aren’t quite in their normal uniform as it was their last day.

We are extremely fortunate to be one of 52 schools to be working with Create Education, to encourage and promote 3D printing in schools. We have kindly been provided with a top of the range 3D printer and scanner, which we hope to include into our Design & Technology curriculum over the next year.

As part of the programme, on Thursday 13th July, 60 year 8 students took part in a 3D printing workshop ran by Sonya and Caroline from Create education. Students were introduced to 3D modelling software, ‘OnShape’, whilst understanding how the 3D printer works. They were given lots of advice on the day, including possible careers and opportunities with 3D printing.

Mrs Freer

Curriculum Technology Co-ordinator

The new Year 7 Baking Club has been a huge success this term. So far, students have made cupcakes and then decorated them with coloured buttercream and lots of sprinkles. They have also made flapjacks this week.  Next week, we will be making vegan brownies, with pancakes to follow and for the pièce de résistance…a lemon meringue roulade!

Year 8s have been conducting food science investigations to understand the functional and chemical properties of yeast in bread.  Students have then made their own bread using yeast as their raising agent.

Mrs Scott

Food Technology Co-ordinator

Year 10 have completed a mock NEA1 (non-exam assessment).  This is where students conduct a food investigation which includes a written report. Their brief was to investigate the working characteristics, functional and chemical properties of raising agents in baked products. Year 10 have now started their mock NEA2.  This mock task this year is to plan, prepare, cook and present a range of dishes from British or International Cuisine. They will make their 3 final dishes in June. 

Miss Scott

Food Preparation and Nutrition Teacher

Year 10 students have learnt about dietary needs and have planned and prepared a vegetarian pizza, complete with pizza box to take home.  Students are now looking into the science of making the pizza dough and bread by conducting a science investigation. 

The pop up – popcorn club after school was a great success. Students made their own popcorn and then flavoured it with a variety of ingredients.  A firm favourite were the marshmallows, sugar and cinnamon!

Mrs Scott

Teacher of Food Preparation and Nutrition

On Wednesday 19th November, Year 10 GCSE DT students visited UCLan to take part in fashion, textiles and interior design workshops. Students learned about the different courses that UCLan offers, the university in general and information about recent upgrades. They also had a chance to experience what it would be like to study at UCLan through the different workshops. Students created some amazing outfits by dressing a banana and produced some prototypes of different furniture solutions based on a client’s needs. 

Mrs Freer

C.A.T. Faculty