The CCEA GCSE Hospitality specification is the only GCSE Hospitality course offered in the UK. Topics include diet and health, first aid, customer care and marketing.

Students develop both their knowledge of the hospitality industry and the skills required for working in it. They learn about:

• how hospitality organisations operate;
• how the industry meets people’s needs;
• the products and services it offers;
• employment possibilities in hospitality;
• the importance of quality and customer service;
• basic food hygiene practices; and
• the skills required to provide food and drink for customers.

Practical tasks reinforce the learning and allow students to discover what it’s like to work in the hospitality industry. They also learn about hospitality career opportunities, including front-of-house and food and beverage roles. This enables them to make informed choices about further education, training and/or employment.

This qualification builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills developed through the Science and Technology and Learning for Life and Work Areas of Learning.

The specification is unitised, so it’s possible to take part of the assessment at the end of the first year of study.

This specification has three units:

• Unit 1: The Hospitality Industry
• Unit 2: Hospitality and the Customer
• Unit 3: Food and Beverage Preparation and Service.