The body, food, health, and physical self-care. Understanding the relationship between physical state, wellbeing, and the capacity to learn.
Primary qualifications and strands
- Edexcel IGCSE Human Biology — covers nutrition and digestion, the nervous system, mental health and the brain, reproduction and development, disease and immunity, exercise and physical health
- Edexcel IGCSE Combined Science (biology component)
- RSHE Health Education component
Where Nutrition appears as secondary
- KS3 Science (Exploring the Natural World)
- Cornerstones Electives (where the elective focus is food, cooking basics, body literacy)
Statutory anchor
RSHE 2026 Healthy Eating (the most directly statutory Cornerstone — the DfE guidance requires all pupils to understand “what constitutes a healthy diet”), Physical Health and Fitness (nutrition and energy), Changing Adolescent Body (body image, eating disorders — handle with care given EBSNA cohort), General Wellbeing (gut-brain connection, nutrition and mood — emerging emphasis).
Care note: Nutrition sessions must be handled with care regarding body image and disordered eating, especially with SEND/trauma-affected young people. The 2026 guidance supports positive, non-stigmatising approaches.