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What is a CUSP Lead School?

The CUSP community is full of passionate educators across the UK and beyond who are all committed to providing exceptional outcomes for pupils, however, only 12 schools nationwide currently hold CUSP Lead School status.

This means that curriculum implementation has been rigorously quality assured by leaders at the multi-academy trust that develops CUSP, and the school has been recognised for its high-quality curriculum delivery and the consistency with which teachers implement this in classroom.

CUSP Lead School status also reflects the commitment of teachers and school leaders to ongoing professional development that keeps the school at the forefront of educational practice. This makes it an exciting place to teach and learn!

Pupils at Whitefield Primary School, Liverpool, with their CUSP Lead School award

Pupils at Brooklands Primary School, Essex, receive their CUSP Lead School award

Pupils at Stoke Park Primary School, Bristol, with their CUSP Lead School award

Pupils at Acle C of E Primary Academy, Norfolk with their CUSP Lead School award

CUSP Lead School Visits

A Lead School Visit is an opportunity to see CUSP in action in a school where the CUSP practice has been quality assured. These schools have woven the principles and practices of CUSP throughout their vision and their curriculum. We work with them to host a day where you can visit lessons, talk to teachers and leaders about their CUSP journey, see pupils’ learning and hear directly from pupils themselves during Pupil Book Study.

Lead School Visits follow a timetable which allows schools to experience a variety of subjects across the primary age range. They are not bespoke to schools or MATs so you will have the opportunity to meet colleagues who are on a similar journey.

All communication around Lead School Visits is managed by CUSP Operations so please email cusp@unitysp.co.uk for more details.

We ask you please do not contact the schools directly as they will refer you back to us.

Important note:  On booking, visitors will be asked to provide a DBS number and date of issue within the last 3 years, or evidence of the update service used within the last 3 years. The original certificate, and confirmation if update service has been used, must be presented at the school on the visit date. Visitors without this information will receive a visitors lanyard and will be accompanied by a member of staff throughout the visit.

Booking a Visit

Bookings for Summer Term 2025 are now open. Please use the booking links in the accordion below (each school has its own link).

We use event management platform Sched for our events. It’s a fantastic platform that is really easy to use. Click here for a guide to registering.

Our lead schools are amazing! As you can appreciate they have a limit to the dates they can offer and the number of visitors they can accommodate. Visiting schools are therefore limited to a maximum of two staff. Places are allocated on a first come first served basis.

Charges and Conditions

  1. There will be a charge for visiting a lead school; this is to reimburse the school for any costs that are incurred whilst hosting this event.
    • £100 + VAT per school for a full day (maximum 2 attendees)
    • £50 + VAT per school for a half day (maximum 2 attendees)
    • £25 + VAT per hour remote meeting
  2. Visiting schools are responsible for arranging and funding travel and accommodation for their staff.
  3. On booking, visitors will be asked to provide a DBS number and date of issue within the last 3 years, or evidence of the update service used within the last 3 years. The original certificate, and confirmation if update service has been used, must be presented at the school on the visit date. Visitors without this information will receive a visitors lanyard and will be accompanied by a member of staff throughout the visit.
  4. Lead schools reserve the right to cancel the visit in the event of an inspection or other unforeseen circumstances.
  5. All bookings for Lead School Visits must be made via Sched. If you require any assistance, please contact cusp@unitysp.co.uk

CUSP Lead School Visits – book here

Summer Term 2025 Dates

Primary

  • Whitefield Primary School, Liverpool – 3rd June (half day)
  • Shankhill Primary School, Cumbria – 4th June
  • Brooklands Primary School, Essex – 5th June (half day – EYFS)
  • St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Middlesbrough – 9th June
  • Brambleside Primary School, Northamptonshire – 10th June
  • John Scurr Primary School, London – 18th June (half day)
  • Acle C of E Primary Academy, Norfolk – 19th June
  • Brockmoor Primary School, Dudley – 19th June
  • Brooklands Primary School, Essex – 19th June
  • Houldsworth Valley Primary Academy, Suffolk – 4th July
  • Stoke Park Primary School and St Werburgh’s Primary School, Bristol – 7th July

Secondary

  • Newmarket Academy, Suffolk – 11th June

I just wanted to extend a huge thank you to you and your team for hosting us last week. We had such a fantastic day exploring the CUSP curriculum and seeing it in action and we both came away feeling truly inspired.

It was a privilege to spend the day in your wonderful school and to see firsthand the fantastic work happening there, not only the curriculum but also by your amazing pupils. Their confidence, articulacy, and enthusiasm for learning really stood out. It was a pleasure to see such high-quality teaching and learning taking place.

Please do pass on our thanks to your staff for making us feel so welcome, and a special mention for the lovely lunch too! We really appreciated the opportunity to visit and learn from you all.

Sarah Robson

Headteacher, Burgh by Sands School