Students in Year 13 complete an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) as part of their ongoing development and study. The EPQ is highly valued by universities and business as evidence of a range of transferable skills required for higher education and employment.

In the EPQ, students have the opportunity to choose their own topic area to research, ideally linked to future studies or career aspirations. Students will produce either a 5,000 word research dissertation on their topic or they will develop an artefact with a 2,000 word research report. They will then plan, research, develop and evaluate their project throughout the year. This is supported by sessions which build on skills such as independent study and research, organisation, time management, presentation skills and reflection.

Successful past dissertation EPQ projects include diverse projects on business marketing, psychological and biological research into Alzheimer’s and autism, causes of the Spanish Civil War, causes of the 2008 economic crash, and the development of paramedic science and dentistry. Examples of excellent artefact EPQ projects include architectural design, jewellery making, photography, creative writing and computer programming.

The EPQ will give you a sense of achievement, an opportunity for individual research on a topic you are interested in and a very valuable qualification for inclusion on UCAS or job applications.