Local businesses cook up workshops for Aberystwyth pupils

A group of Aberystwyth students were joined by two local businesses who provided workshops demonstrating their roles and the skills needed in the industry.

With support from Careers Wales, Hybu Cig Wales, Rachel’s Organic, and Cambrian Training supported Penglais School and provided workshops directly linked to the curriculum as well as careers and work-related experiences (CWRE), a mandatory part of the curriculum.

The food and nutrition GCSE students learned the skills needed to cook and prepare certain foods, where food comes from, the science of it and food commodities.

Hybu Cig Wales, who promote and market Welsh meat, provided the school with some posters, publications, and educational resources on Welsh meat to use in the classroom. Cambrian Training spoke about its own organisation, and the skills needed to be a butcher and what the job involves. Chris Jones from Cambrian Training performed a live demonstration of how to cut different slices of pork and how the taste changes with each one once cooked.

Jo Tett and her colleague from organic dairy producers, Rachel’s Organic, delivered a presentation on yoghurt production and the role of starter cultures. The students also took part in a tasting session of yoghurts and other dairy products.

Jason Retter, food and nutrition teacher at Penglais School, said: “It was fantastic to have successful local businesses take time out of their busy workdays and present to the class and champion their industry in such engaging ways.

“Not only were the workshops directly related to the curriculum, but also fun and full of interesting information. The students enjoyed every minute of it.”

Rebecca Flanagan, a business engagement adviser at Careers Wales, added: “Teachers at Penglais School are really embracing CWRE to support the new curriculum in Wales. This is just one example of how schools can embed CWRE into their school’s curriculum to help students understand the different skills needed across a variety of different roles and industries, which they otherwise may not have considered.”

Careers and work-related experiences (CWRE) is a mandatory, cross-cutting theme within the Curriculum for Wales for learners aged three to 16.

For more information about how schools and settings can embed CWRE, visit the Careers Wales website or contact curriculumteam@careerswales.gov.wales.