Q2A

Got an enquiry ........

I want to be a food technology teacher. I am in year 11 and not sure which A-level's to pick. Could you tell me which I need to do and which Uni's do the course please.

This is our reply.......

Hi foodtech, thanks for your email.

It's good that you've been able to decide on a future career, it's a big decision that's out of the way now. The useful subjects to study at A Level are Chemistry, Biology, Food Technology, Home Economics. How many of these you would need to study at A Level will depend on which university you want to go to. We've given some examples of university entry requirements below and you'll see that there's a wide variation.

To become a Food Technology teacher you qualify as a Food Technologist first by studying for a degree in a related subject e.g. Food Technology, Home Economics, Food Science & Nutrition, and then get a teaching qualification by completing the Post- Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) course, either at a university, or by the School - Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT). This is classroom-based training which takes one year and usually leads to a PGCE.

There are currently four universities in the North of England offering degrees in Food Technology or related subjects. The information below is for starting a degree next year (2012) so you would need to check again in the future to see if the entry requirements change. The universities are:

# Liverpool John Moores University. 3 year full time degree in Home Economics (Food Design & Technology). 260 UCAS tariff points. 3 GCSEs at grade C or above, including English. Minimum 2 A Levels (no grades specified). Contact details: Kingsway House, 2nd Floor, Hatton Garden, Liverpool. L3 2AJ. Telephone: 0151 231 5090. Website: http://www.ljmu.ac.uk

# Manchester Metropolitan University. 4 year sandwich degree in Food Technology, year 3 is a work placement. 280 UCAS tariff points. GSCE English Language Maths and a double science award at grade C or above. Minimum 2 A Levels: AS Level Science at least Grade D. A Level Food Technology or Food and Nutrition at Grade E. Contact details: All Saints Building, All Saints, Manchester. M15 6BH. Telephone: 0161 247 2000. Website: http://www.mmu.ac.uk

# University of Leeds. 3 year full time degree in Food Studies and Nutrition or 4 years full time includes a year studying abroad, or a one year industrial placement. 320 UCAS tariff points. NO GCSEs specified. 3 A Levels at grades ABB, at least 2 science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths, and excluding General Studies. Contact details: Woodhouse Lane, Leeds. LS2 9JT. Telephone : 0113 343 3999. Website:http://www.leeds.ac.uk

# Reaseheath College. 4 year sandwich degree in Food Technology. 240 UCAS tariff points. An A Level in a science-based subject or a Foundation Degree in Food Industry with Management, Dairy Technology or other relevant subject. (No GCSEs or A Level grades specified). Contact details: Food and Dairy Department, Nantwich. Cheshire. CW5 6DF. Telephone: 01270 613284. Website: http://www.reaseheath.ac.uk

If you would like to study further away from home you can find other universities which offer Food Technology-type degree courses at:

# http://www.ucas.com click on Course Search, then 'f' on the A-Z, then 'Food Science', then 'Food Technology'

If you would like more information about careers in Food Technology have a look at, or contact:

# the Institute of Food Science & Technology, Unit 5, Cambridge Court, 210 Shepherd's Bush Road, London. W6 7NJ. Telephone: 020 7603 6316. Website: http://www.ifst.org/learninghome They have a separate careers website at: http://www.foodtechcareers.org

Work experience (either paid or unpaid) would be a useful addition to your academic qualifications. It will show that you're interested in and committed to this area of work. The sort of places you could try are for example food manufacturers, catering companies,
restaurant kitchens. Some examples in your area are (these aren't recommendations, just ideas):

Food manufacturers:

# Dr Oetker, Unit 20, Marathon Place, Mosside Industrial Estate, Leyland. PR26 7QN.Telephone: 01772 643300. Website: http://www.oetker.co.uk

# European Freeze Dry Ltd, 45 Roman Way, Longridge Road, Ribbleton, Preston. PR2 5BD. Telephone: 01772 654441. Website: http://www.europeanfreezedry.com

Caterers:

# Bon Appetit Catering, 47 Cann Bridge Street, Higher Walton, Preston. PR5 4DJ. Telephone: 01772 334802. Website: http://www.bonappetit-catering.co.uk

# Pitstop Catering, Unit 4a Dewhurst Industrial Estate, Dewhurst Street, Preston. PR2
2NE. Telephone: 01772 883480. Website: http://pitstopcatering.com

Restaurants:

# Heathcotes, 23 Winckley Square, Preston. PR1 3JJ. Telephone: 01772 886363. Website: http://www.heathcotes.co.uk

# Tiggis, 38-42, Guildhall Street, Preston. PR1 3NU. Telephone: 01772 887766. Website: http://www.tiggis.co.uk

We hope you find this information helpful. Please email us again if you think we can help, about this or anything else. Good luck in your future studies.

Best wishes from q2a.

home  answer bank  answer file story board privacy policy  confidentiality policy  contact  terms and conditions