At Black Combe Junior School, we believe that every day, every opportunity, every experience and every child counts. Through our Design and Technology curriculum, we inspire children to be creative thinkers, problem solvers and innovators. We encourage pupils to use their imagination, develop practical skills and take pride in designing and creating products that solve real-life problems and meet the needs of others.

Using the United Learning Design and Technology Curriculum, we provide a broad, progressive and inclusive curriculum that develops children's knowledge, skills and understanding through a range of meaningful and engaging projects. Through carefully sequenced learning, pupils revisit and build upon key design and technology concepts throughout their primary years, enabling them to develop increasing confidence, independence and technical expertise.

Children are given opportunities to investigate, design, make and evaluate products across a variety of contexts. They learn a range of practical skills, including cooking and nutrition, textiles, structures and mechanical systems, whilst developing an understanding of how design and technology shapes the world around them. Through each project, pupils are encouraged to think creatively, test ideas, learn from mistakes and improve their work through reflection and evaluation.

We believe that Design and Technology helps children develop the skills and attitudes needed for life both within and beyond school. It encourages resilience, perseverance and adaptability as pupils work through challenges and discover that successful designs often come from refining and improving ideas over time. By exploring how products are designed, made and used, children develop an appreciation for the role that innovation and technology play in everyday life.

Design and Technology is an important part of our vision to nurture children as individuals, celebrate their strengths and prepare them for the next stage of their education and future life. We encourage pupils to be curious, inventive and resourceful learners who are confident in sharing ideas and willing to take risks in their learning. Through practical experiences, children learn to work both independently and collaboratively, developing valuable skills that will support them throughout their lives.

Our Design and Technology curriculum supports the core values that underpin life at Black Combe Junior School:

• Responsibility by encouraging pupils to take ownership of their learning, use equipment safely and care for resources.
• Co-operation through working together to share ideas, solve problems and develop designs.
• Honesty by evaluating their work thoughtfully and recognising how designs can be improved.
• Respect through valuing the ideas and contributions of others and considering the needs of users when designing products.
• Kindness by supporting, encouraging and celebrating one another's achievements throughout the design process.

Design and Technology also helps our children develop a sense of belonging within their local, national and global communities. Through exploring how products are designed to improve people's lives, pupils gain a greater understanding of the world around them and the important role that creativity, engineering and innovation play in shaping the future.

At Black Combe Junior School, we want every child to leave with the confidence to think creatively, solve problems and approach challenges with resilience and determination. By fostering curiosity, innovation and practical skills, we aim to inspire lifelong learning and help our pupils grow, achieve, aspire and inspire.