NCFE Level 2 Certificate In Food And Cookery Skills

This qualification is designed for students with an interest in food and cookery. It will provide students with experience of using different cooking skills and methods to enable them to use these within further education or apprenticeships. It will give them a basic understanding of the skills required for a career in food.

Qualification content

Throughout their study, students will develop skills including how to:

  • prepare and cook using basic skills
  • plan and produce dishes for a purpose
  • ensure a safe and hygienic environment.

Students will also take away valuable knowledge of:

  • food and its functions in the body and in recipes
  • balanced diets and modification of recipes for health purposes.

Preparing to cook

This unit aims to introduce students to the safe and hygienic preparation of the cooking environment and ingredients. Students will understand the importance of how to prepare and store equipment and utensils. Students will learn to understand and follow recipes to demonstrate their cooking skills to produce a variety of dishes.

Understanding food

This unit will provide students with an understanding of factors that can affect food choices. Students will be able to apply these factors when selecting and cooking dishes.

Exploring balanced diets

Students will understand the importance of a balanced diet. They will learn about Reference Intake (RI)/Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs) and how food labels can inform healthy eating. Students will be able to change recipes to make them healthier.

Plan and produce dishes in response to a brief

This unit will give students the opportunity to bring together their learning and skills developed throughout the course to produce a menu in response to a brief. Students will plan, make and review their completed dishes.

Career Progression

Students who achieve the NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Food and Cookery Skills could progress to:

  • Advanced A Level in Design and Technology: Food Technology
  • Diploma in Advanced Professional Cookery (Preparation and Cooking)
  • Certificate in Hospitality and Catering Principles
  • Professional Cookery Studies.