At Brockmoor Primary School, we believe a knowledge-rich curriculum should do more than teach isolated facts. The CUSP (Curriculum with Unity Schools Partnership) Big Ideas are the themes that connect learning across subjects and year groups. They help pupils build a deeper understanding of the world, themselves and others.

Big Ideas are woven through the curriculum rather than taught as stand-alone units. They help pupils to:

• Make meaningful connections between subjects and develop a broader understanding.

• Revisit important themes through regular retrieval, strengthening long-term knowledge.

• Take part in discussion and debate, developing reasoning and critical thinking skills.

• Build cultural awareness and prepare for life in modern Britain and beyond.

Our aim is that every child leaves primary school with a secure understanding of these ideas, along with the curiosity and confidence to continue learning.

What Are CUSP Big Ideas?

A Connected Curriculum

The CUSP Big Ideas provide a structure that ensures knowledge is:

• Securely understood, not simply memorised.

• Reinforced across different subjects.

• Explored through discussion, explanation and reflection.

Each Big Idea supports pupils in making sense of the world and understanding their responsibilities within it.

The CUSP Big Ideas at Brockmoor Primary

1. British Heritage

Pupils learn about Britain’s history, culture and values. They study significant individuals and events and consider what can be learned from the past.

Examples across the curriculum:
History: The Great Fire of London, The Windrush Generation, British monarchs
Geography: Studies of the UK and comparisons between regions
Reading: The Magician’s Nephew, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

2. Environmental Responsibility

Pupils explore climate change, sustainability and the impact of human activity. They consider how individual and collective actions can protect the environment.

Examples across the curriculum:
Science: The effects of climate change on habitats
Design and Technology: Sustainable materials in textiles and food
Reading: Greta and the Giants, There’s a Rang-Tan in My Bedroom

3. The Natural World

Children develop curiosity about the world around them. They build scientific knowledge about plants, animals, materials and physical processes, alongside a sense of responsibility for the environment.

Examples across the curriculum:
Science: Evolution, ecosystems, food chains
Geography: Volcanoes, rivers and mountains
Reading: The Street Beneath My Feet, Shackleton’s Journey

4. Understanding Others

This theme promotes empathy and respect for different cultures, religions and perspectives. Pupils explore identity, inclusion and the impact of prejudice.

Examples across the curriculum:
PSHE: Diversity and challenging stereotypes
History: The Windrush Generation, women in history
Reading: The Proudest Blue, Young, Gifted and Black

5. Community, Citizenship and the Wider World

Pupils learn about their role in society and how they can contribute positively. They explore democracy, justice and moral responsibility.

Examples across the curriculum:
History: Ancient Greek democracy, civil rights movements
Music: The role of music in bringing communities together
Reading: Boy in the Tower, The Girl Who Stole an Elephant

6. Overcoming Adversity

Children learn about resilience and perseverance. They study people who have overcome challenges and consider how to respond to setbacks in their own lives.

Examples across the curriculum:
Reading: The Lion Inside, Dare to Be You
History: Evacuation during the Second World War, the suffragette movement
Assemblies: Growth mindset and learning from mistakes

7. Technology and the Advancement of Humanity

Pupils examine how technology has shaped society in the past and continues to do so today. They also consider the ethical questions linked to scientific and technological change.

Examples across the curriculum:
Science: DNA, medical advances, space exploration
History: The Industrial Revolution, the invention of flight
Reading: Pig Heart Boy, Operation Gadgetman

8. Migration

This theme explores the movement of people across time and place. Pupils learn about the reasons for migration and its impact on societies.

Examples across the curriculum:
History: The Windrush Generation, Viking invasions, trade routes
Geography: Settlement patterns and migration
Reading: The Boy at the Back of the Class, Coming to England

9. Friendship and Kindness

Pupils learn how to build positive relationships and develop emotional understanding. Kindness is embedded as a core value across the school.

Examples across the curriculum:
Reading: Paddington, Beegu, Rooftoppers
Science: Health, wellbeing and emotional regulation
Assemblies: Fairness, peace and listening

A Curriculum That Develops Deep Thinking

At Brockmoor Primary, these Big Ideas form the foundation of our curriculum. They:

• Provide a structure for deeper thinking.

• Help pupils see links between subjects.

• Encourage curiosity, discussion and reflection.

By embedding these themes throughout the curriculum, we aim to ensure that pupils leave Brockmoor with a broad understanding of the world and the confidence to take their next steps in learning.

For further information, including curriculum overviews and details of how Big Ideas are mapped across subjects, please contact Tom Amphlett at info@brockmoor.dudley.sch.uk.