British Science Week - Secondary

Resources to support secondary schools exploring the British Science Week 2025 theme, 'change and adapt'!

What's here?

We’ve gathered a selection of resources to use with learners aged 11-16 years during British Science Week 2025. We have gathered resources to align with this year’s theme, ‘Change and adapt’.

Students aged 11-14 can learn about the safe production and processing of key food commodities to ensure they are edible and safe.

Students aged 14-16 can apply their food knowledge as they carry out investigations on various foods

We’ve also provided a selection of experiments so that students of any age can get hands-on and develop their scientific skills.

At the bottom of the page, you’ll also find links to some of our fantastic careers in food resources, which are perfect to use with secondary students, particularly during Careers Week.

Food production and processing (11-14 years)

The safe production and processing of key food commodities

  • All food needs to be processed before they can be eaten, even if they are picked and washed. For a simple introduction and a stimulus for further discussion, use the Can I eat it? presentation. Ask the pupils to explain how the food given as examples are processed to make them safe to eat and edible.
  • Ask the pupils to describe the consequences of food not produced or processed safely.
  • For more detailed information about the different ways food commodities are produced and processed so that they are safe to eat, show the Safe production and processing of food presentation.

For more information about the production and processing of key food commodities, go to the Food commodities area.

11 - 14 YR
Can I eat it? presentation

A stimulus presentation looking at the safe production and processing of food.

11 - 14 YR
Safe production and processing of food presentation

A presentation looking at the safe production and processing of food.

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Farming food for you - dairy

A poster about the dairy farm and farmer.

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Farming food for you - beef cattle

A poster about the beef cattle farm and farmer.

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Farming food for you - sheep

A poster about the sheep farm and farmer.

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Farming food for you - potatoes

A poster about the potato farm and farmer.

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Farming food for you - cereals

A poster about the cereal farm and farmer.

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Farming food for you - pigs

A poster about the pig farm and farmer.

Food investigations (14-16 years)

Support students to utilise their food science knowledge as they investigate a range of foods.

14 - 16 YR
Investigation - sugar in cake

An activity and worksheet looking at sugar in cake.

14 - 16 YR
Investigation - fats in cake

An activity and worksheet looking at fats in cake.

14 - 16 YR
Investigation - ingredients that set

An activity and worksheet looking at ingredients that set.

14 - 16 YR
Investigation - fats in pastry

An activity and worksheet looking at fats in pastry.

14 - 16 YR
Investigation - flour in pastry

An activity and worksheet looking at flour in pastry.

14 - 16 YR
Investigation - egg proteins

An activity and worksheet looking at egg proteins.

14 - 16 YR
Investigation - ingredients that thicken vegetable soup

An activity and worksheet looking at thickening soup.

Food experiments (11-16 years)

Check out the range of food science experiments you can perform in your classroom and use our experiment sheets, detailing how foods can be tested for certain nutrients.

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Enzymic browning

A worksheet looking at enzymic browning.

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Caramelisation

A worksheet looking at caramelisation.

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Emulsions

A worksheet looking at emulsions.

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Fat aeration

A worksheet looking at fat aeration.

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Shortening

A worksheet looking at shortening.

11 - 14 YR
Shortening

A food science activity pack around shortening.

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Acid denaturing

A worksheet looking at acid denaturing.

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Coagulation

A worksheet looking at coagulation.

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Enzymes and gels

A worksheet looking at enzymes and gels.

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The Maillard reaction

A worksheet looking at the Maillard reaction.

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Protein foams

A worksheet looking at protein foams.

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Biological raising agents

A worksheet looking at biological raising agents.

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Chemical raising agents

A worksheet looking at chemical raising agents.

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Gluten formation

A worksheet looking at gluten formation.

Careers in food (11-16 years)

The career opportunities from ‘farm to fork’ are extensive and provide wide variety of opportunities to students.

The following resources can support your careers education all year round and be used during Careers Week.

You can explore the full range of careers in food resources here, including case studies on a range of farming, food education and nutrition roles, apprenticeships case studies and careers interviews.

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Careers in food poster

A classroom poster to showcase the variety of career opportunities available in the food industry.

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Apprenticeships in the food industry (Video recording)

Frances is joined by a panel from around the UK, sharing their knowledge of apprenticeships in food

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Apprenticeships in the food industry (Slides)

Slides from the apprenticeship forum, providing key information on apprenticeships

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Foundation Apprenticeship in Food and Drink Technologies

A presentation from Isla Porteous about the Foundation Apprenticeship in Food and Drink Technologies

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Careers in Food and Drink

A presentation from a webinar about careers in food and drink with Amy Crooks from NSAFD.

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Careers in Food and Drink video

Amy Crooks from NSAFD talks careers in the food and drink sector for pupils

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Food careers

Dr Caroline Millman explains the diverse and exciting range of careers options available in food

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Farm to fork careers in Northern Ireland (Video)

Liz Simpson, DAERA, highlights the versatile career opportunities for young people in food

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Farm to fork careers in Northern Ireland

Liz Simpson, DAERA, highlights the versatile career opportunities for young people in food

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Careers in Agriculture - LEAF Education

Katy Pallas from LEAF Education discusses the various careers available in agriculture

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LEAF Farm careers tour - spring '23

Take a virtual farm tour with LEAF!

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