From cold case citizen investigators to the ethics of modern zoos, prison overcrowding, polygraph testing, and meditation — our EPQ students tackled some truly thought-provoking topics. Begun last December and submitted at the start of Year 13, this year’s group of students received the results of their hard work today as the exam board published their final grades. We are thrilled to share with you that all entrants were awarded an A – C grade. As this is a student-led qualification (find out more below), this is a testament to their hard work and dedication and each student should be proud of their achievement.
All Year 12 students have the opportunity to undertake the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) — a highly respected Level 3 qualification equivalent to half an A Level. The EPQ allows students to explore a subject linked to extending their studies or dive into an area of personal interest, while developing valuable skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
The EPQ is an independent research project, which can take the form of a 5,000-word report or an artefact supported by a shorter research report. Throughout the process, students maintain a Production Log to record and reflect on their progress and they present their project to a small audience. Students are fully supported every step of the way by a personal supervisor, the college’s EPQ Coordinator, and the college Librarian, who delivers the accompanying Taught Skills programme. Alongside their research, students develop essential skills that enhance performance across their other subjects and prepare them for university-level study — including independent research, critical reflection, project management, presentation skills, motivation, and resilience. As a process-based qualification, the EPQ rewards how students plan, research, develop, complete and reflect on their project at each stage, not just the final outcome.
We have already begun the EPQ with our new cohort of Year 12 students and are excited to see how their ideas and projects evolve over the year.