Writing
The Black Country Schools Federation
At The Black Country Schools, we believe that writing is a vital discipline that empowers pupils to communicate clearly, think critically, and express themselves creatively. Our writing curriculum is underpinned by CUSP – a knowledge-rich, research-led approach that secures fluent, purposeful, and proficient writers.
Curriculum Intent
Our writing curriculum ensures that pupils:
- Develop fluency in handwriting, spelling, and sentence construction
- Understand how to craft texts for a range of audiences and purposes
- Secure deep knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, and genre conventions
- Master sentence-level composition before writing extended pieces
- Embed planning, drafting, proofreading, and editing as writing habits
Through consistent routines and explicit instruction, all pupils – regardless of starting point – are equipped to write with accuracy, confidence, and control.
Curriculum Structure
Writing is deliberately structured around fewer core text types, revisited systematically to enable mastery. This Reduce and Revisit approach ensures:
- High-quality modelling and sentence work in the first cycle
- Greater independence and sophistication in the second
- Deep understanding of language, structure, and audience
CUSP Writing aligns with the wider curriculum. Pupils write authentic pieces linked to history, science, geography, and PSHE, including reports, explanations, balanced arguments, and biographies.
Sentence-Level Mastery
The foundation of great writing is sentence construction. Every lesson builds from oral rehearsal to written fluency through:
- Explicit teaching of grammar and syntax
- Daily sentence practice using high-quality models
- Structured scaffolding and gradual release
Only when pupils can construct coherent, grammatically secure sentences are they expected to write at length.
Lesson Design
Each CUSP Writing lesson follows a consistent structure:
- Connect – Retrieval of prior knowledge and sentence forms
- Explain – Explicit teaching of vocabulary or grammar
- Example – Teacher modelling of the writing outcome
- Attempt – Guided sentence-level practice
- Apply – Independent composition with scaffolds removed
- Challenge – Editing, refining, and extending the writing
This approach ensures clarity, high expectations, and consistent progression across year groups and phases.
Collaboration and Moderation
Across The Black Country Schools, we raise standards in writing through curriculum consistency, shared CPD, and professional dialogue. We lead the Black Country KS2 Writing Moderation Hub, providing half-termly collaboration and high-quality exemplification for Year 6 writing.
Further Information
For:
- Curriculum Overviews and Knowledge Notes
- To find out more about the CUSP Writing Curriculum
Please contact the CUSP team at: cusp@unitysp.co.uk
To join the Black Country KS2 Writing Moderation Hub or arrange a visit, contact:
Tom Amphlett at info@brockmoor.dudley.sch.uk
