National 5/Higher Health and Food Technology

This course is to allow learners to develop practical and technological skills, knowledge and understanding to make informed food and consumer choices.

The course has three distinct units:

Food for Health

This unit will develop learners’ knowledge of the relationship between food, health and nutrition. Learners will develop knowledge of dietary needs of individuals at various stages of life and describe current dietary advice.

Food Product Development

This unit will allow learners to develop knowledge and understanding of the functional properties of ingredients in food and their use in developing food products. Learners will develop a basic understanding of the stages involved in developing a food product. Through a problem-solving approach, learners will make food product(s) to meet specified needs.

Contemporary Food Issues

In this Unit, learners will develop knowledge of consumer food choices. They will consider factors which may affect food choices and develop knowledge of contemporary food issues. They will consider technological developments in food and organisations which protect consumer interests. They will also develop knowledge of food labelling and how it helps consumers make informed food choices.

Added Value Unit: (National 4 only)

This is a practical based assignment where learners will develop their own food product for a given need.

Assessment

To achieve a N4, all learners must pass all 3 unit assessments in class, and complete the Added Value Unit to a satisfactory level.

At N5/Higher, learners must pass the practical assignment worth 60 marks (50%) and a question paper worth 60 marks (50%), both are marked by SQA.

Practical Assignment (N5/Higher)

This is a practical based assignment where learners will develop their own food product from a brief assigned by SQA. This is externally marked by SQA and is worth 60 marks (50% of the marks)

The course ideally requires pupils to be sitting English at N5 for N5 and pupils should have their N5 English or be sitting Higher for the Higher course due to the main component being written. A science at N5 or above is beneficial too.

Progression

Future careers paths could include all areas of the Food Industry including Food Product Development. Sports Nutrition and Dietetics are also popular as well as Teaching.