Welcome to CUSP

At Sacred Heart School, we use the CUSP Primary Curriculum because it helps every child make steady, meaningful progress. CUSP gives children the chance to revisit and build on what they’ve learned, so knowledge becomes secure and confidence grows. Lessons are carefully planned, engaging, and rich in vocabulary, allowing pupils to make connections between subjects and deepen their understanding. By using high-quality resources and a well-structured approach, we can give every child the best possible learning experience and help them thrive.

What is CUSP?

CUSP (Curriculum with Unity Schools Partnership) is a thoughtfully designed curriculum that helps children build secure knowledge across a wide range of subjects. It is grounded in educational research and includes carefully planned lessons, high-quality resources and structured progression from year to year. CUSP focuses not only on what children learn, but how they learn, ensuring that knowledge is remembered, used confidently, and built upon over time.

What is different about CUSP?

What sets CUSP apart is the way learning is sequenced and revisited. Instead of covering topics once and moving on, children return to important ideas so they can deepen their understanding. Vocabulary is at the centre of the approach, helping children use subject-specific language accurately. Lesson content and resources are designed so key ideas are visually supported, clearly explained and connected to previous learning. As a result, pupils gain confidence, remember more and can talk about their learning with clarity.

Strategically led by Alex Bedford and Lauren Meadows, CUSP content is developed and enriched by subject specialists and leaders in their field. CUSP long-term sequences and Learning modules clearly articulate and define the substantive knowledge (what pupils need to know) as well as the disciplinary knowledge (what pupils can do). We have mapped this coherently and cumulatively across the curriculum.

What subject does it cover?

CUSP offers a full curriculum for a broad range of subjects, including:

• Science

• History

• Geography

• Art and Design

• Design and Technology

• Computing 

• Reading

• Writing

Each subject includes detailed planning, clear learning sequences and supporting materials such as knowledge organisers, visual resources, model examples and opportunities to revisit prior learning. This ensures pupils build strong foundations and see how knowledge links across different areas.

Hoe does it fit in with the school philosophy?

At Sacred Heart School, we believe that every child deserves a curriculum that is ambitious, exciting and inclusive. CUSP supports these values by giving all learners, regardless of starting point, access to rich content and high-quality teaching. It helps us promote independence, curiosity and confidence. Through CUSP, our staff can deliver engaging lessons that promote deep thinking, clear communication and meaningful progress. This approach aligns with our commitment to developing well-rounded learners who achieve academically, grow personally and experience success throughout their school journey