Our curriculum strives to deliver a world class learning experience for our students, which develops learners love for design and creativity and equips our students with the skills to be able and qualified in food technology and resistance materials for the rest of their lives.   

We want to develop attributes, alongside the key skills learnt in technology. We want our students to be good planners and decision makers, been able to work independently and be able to solve problems as well as evaluate their achievement to make further improvements.  In food we want to encourage learners to cook, enabling them to make informed decisions about food and nutrition and allow them to acquire knowledge in order to be able to feed themselves and others affordably and nutritiously, now and later in life. Through our technology curriculum, students will improve their confidence and resilience through the challenges they face.  We will be successful when students leave with a ‘can do attitude’ and don’t see problems, just the solutions to solve them.  

Our broad and balanced curriculum promotes individual imagination enabling every student to develop their skills with creativity; theoretically and practically.  Through an enjoyable, inclusive curriculum that supports and challenges all, we strive to overcome social disadvantage and break down local community-based barriers. Alongside our curriculum runs a vibrant enrichment offer that makes links with the local community and offers a range of opportunities to learn new recipes, new skills and the ability to be proud to make high quality products. 

As students move through their journey at Sir Thomas Wharton they will learn new skills, but also repeat and refine existing ones to become fully able and confident in the workroom or kitchen. Our examination courses are designed to develop a student’s independence, develop effective research methods, work to deadlines and gain a real grounding in the theory of food science and nutrition as well as design and technology. 

These skills will help our learners move onto their next stage of learning equipped to be the next leaders in the design and technology industry as well as developing a career in food, diet or catering.   

Curriculum Principles:​​ ​

• To secure student investment in their future career choices ​ 

• To provide opportunities to explore the skills and qualities needed to promote excellence in the world of Food and Nutrition​ and technology. 

• To develop and apply subject specific knowledge, skills and concepts to different Food contexts​ or design projects. 

• To support the holistic development of practical, problem solving and thinking skills required to be successful in employment and higher education.​ 

• To prepare students for the challenges of the workplace by developing creativity and resilience whilst encouraging a determined, ‘can do’ approach.​