School partnership focuses on industry careers
Stag Bakeries set 100 S2 pupils from four local schools on the Isle of Lewis an ambitious
challenge to devise a new biscuit that would appeal to Stag Bakeries main customer
base. Using the food industry as a context for learning, the pupils used many transferable
skills to do everything from costing the ingredients, investigating food miles to a scientific
analysis of their recipe.
The project was delivered as part of the SFDF's innovative schools
programme, 'A Future in Food'.
- Stag Bakeries is passionate about being part
of their local community. They also recognise the
importance of having a skilled workforce.
- Stag challenged the pupils to devise a new product
to go on sale as part of their biscuit range.
- This was a multi-disciplinary project that focused
on subjects like Maths, English and Science as well
as Home Economics.
- The winning product is now on sale in local shops
and almost 3,000 biscuits have already been sold.
- The biscuits have been showcased in the Scottish
Parliament and the House of Commons!
This partnership was developed as part of SFDF's national
schools programme, 'A Future in Food', which helps
teachers, pupils and parents better understand the food and
drink manufacturing sector in Scotland. It helps highlight
the wide variety of rewarding careers on offer and explores
the routes to access them.
'A Future in Food' facilitates the
creation of valuable educational partnerships that support
a Curriculum for Excellence. The partnership was originally
established by the 'Skills for Work Strategy' of Comhairle
nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles) Education Department, when
over 100 S2 pupils from Back, Lionel, Shawbost, Lochs
and the Nicolson Institute on the Isle of Lewis were brought
together with Stag Bakeries.
After gaining an insight into modern food production, the pupils then worked in
teams to develop a new product for Stag Bakeries. This partnership was
multi-disciplinary, involving the pupils using a range of transferable skills,
including
literacy, numeracy and science, across four main subjects. What pupils learnt
as
a result of their involvement with this project is
listed below:
In Home Economics you are learning to:
- Research the range of Stag Bakery products
- Work as part of a design team
- 'Design and make' a new biscuit
- Consider limitations set by large scale production
- Carry out bakery trials
- Evaluate biscuits using specifications
In Geography you are learning to:
- Research the sources of ingredients
- Evaluate how 'methods of buying' have an impact
on economically less developed countries
- Make a link between climate and food production
In Maths you are learning to:
- Cost a recipe
- Adjust recipe costings to make a product cheaper or
more expensive
- Model costing scenarios using Microsoft Excel
- Display data using software
In Science you are learning to:
- Analyse the food constituents of a 'new' food product
- Test a food product to find out which Nutrients are
present in it
The pupils also learnt about the range of rewarding careers available within the
food and drink industry, including new product
development, science-based technical roles, marketing and finance.
The winning team from Sgoil a' Bhac came up with a delicious strawberry and
white chocolate recipe. During a visit to the bakery, the pupils oversaw
production
of their biscuit which is now available to buy in local shops. Stag has also
designed packaging that recognises the contribution of the pupils which will be
launched later on this year.
Next steps?
Stag Bakeries hope to continue their work with schools through 'A Future in
Food' in the future and are planning an
exciting new partnership for 2012.
'A Future in Food' is funded by the Scottish Government.
Skills Development Scotland also supports the programme.
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