Student making Pokemon terrariums
Student life

Extended Project Qualification

What will you do for your EPQ?

The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is part of the Year 12 core programme and offers the chance to develop real independence, resilience and maturity as an Advanced level learner while pursuing a topic of your choosing. From staging a fashion show or designing a carbon-neutral house to researching ground-breaking cancer therapies or starting the novel you’ve always wanted to write, the EPQ presents a fantastic opportunity to pursue your interests and spread your wings 

Try something new

No matter where your interests lie, the Extended Project is the perfect opportunity to try something different. You decide the topic, you assess your progress and you determine what your final dissertation, artefact, performance or event will be! 

I wanted to combine my passion for medicine and art, by reading medical papers and getting to illustrate and print my own book. I love the idea of communicating complex ideas in an engaging and entertaining way!

Eleanor

I was very keen on looking deeper into where my family comes from and also more about the cultures I was brought up with, especially since quilting is a prevalent art form in both cultures.

Milo

I knew I wanted to do something creative for my Extended Project, so I liked how building a bike could incorporate some creative aspects, such as designing the paintwork.

Eloise

Develops transferable skills

Taught in a university style, through seminars and group tutorials, this qualification prepares you for both higher education and employment. Focusing on all of those crucial skills that you develop as you take a project through from drawing board to delivery allows you to carve out your unique pathway and follow your interests.

The EPQ is well-regarded by universities and is equivalent to half an A level. The project provides evidence that the transition from college to university will be a smooth one for students who have successfully demonstrated their aptitude for independent learning.

The project is assessed across four areas: planning, research, skill development and self-evaluation. Keep reading to see what other Year 12 students have chosen for the project.

Robin making his guitar

Artefact

Project: Designing and building an electric guitar by upscaling materials.

Project rationale:
Robin chose this project because he is interested in woodworking and music. Building and designing the guitar incorporated maths and engineering skills, including detailed and intricate processes and drawing and designing. Robin is thinking about doing engineering or mathematics after Hills.

Project highlights:
Planning: Robin managed his time with multiple project breakdowns and Gantt charts.
Research: Exploring key areas of building and designing a guitar was critical to his project.
Skill development: Combining hand drawing and digital design using Procreate was best for designing the guitar.
Evaluation: Sourcing high-quality materials allowed Robin to create a better guitar, and he also got his materials for free!

I have learnt that I enjoy woodwork, and I like the precision and thoroughness of the process. The project development skills should help me manage future study and work.

Robin

Dissertation

Project: The oppression of women and their resistance in The Handmaid’s Tale

Project rationale:
Rose's project was a dissertation on the oppression of women and their resistance in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. She chose to do it in response to the contemporary political discussions surrounding female reproductive rights worldwide, such as the abolition of Roe v. Wade.

Project highlights:
Planning: Rose read the novel in great depth before creating a plan for her dissertation, using the key ideas she had developed through her reading and research.
Research: She used ideas from the novel to direct her secondary research, which she conducted on various social, political and literary topics.
Skill development: Rose extensively learned about political developments in women’s rights, along with supporting topics to form her argument.
Evaluation: She was really engaged in her topic, which helped her find the focus she needed to write her dissertation. Taking a structured approach with a defined schedule and timeline helped Rose to succeed.

I am proud of the dedication I needed to complete this project. The depth of my research and detailed novel analysis meant this project phase was very time-consuming. However, I feel that this work paid off, given the quality of my outcome.

Rose

Event

Project: Hosting an Esports tournament

Project rationale:
Sam has always loved playing video games and watching Esports, so hosting one himself was a really exciting concept. When Sam is older, he wants to get into either the screen or the video game industry, and this project combines both.

Project highlights:
Planning: Developing a precise schedule and building in contingencies helped a lot.
Research: Sam did lots of research into the different types of eSports tournaments.
Skill development: Hosting, presenting and communication were core skills he had to perfect.
Evaluation: The tools Sam used, such as weekly progress reviews and a diary of successes, were crucial to delivering the event.

My EPQ was the most fun I’ve ever had in education. It can be whatever you want, and it can be amazing.

Sam
Lemons poster

Performance

Project: Directing and producing Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons

Project rationale:
Sophie chose to direct and produce a play for her EPQ because her main passions are theatre and acting. She is extremely comfortable acting, but wanted to stretch herself and develop her performance skills, as she had never directed a play before.

Project highlights:
Planning: Sophie maintained a thorough log full of details, skills, and photos throughout her project.
Research: Her focus was on staging the play and the story's political context. The challenge was communicating that quickly on stage.
Skill development: Sophie made photographic records of everything she did to make it easy for someone looking at her work to understand the context and what was happening.
Evaluation: She took every opportunity to evaluate her work by responding to peer and mentor feedback.

Watching the final show, I was emotional at the huge improvement in the acting. I was so proud of the quality and professionalism of the performance, which was the product of all of our hard work.

Sophie

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