The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

Board: AQA
Co-ordinator: Pauline Moloney

Content

The extended project is a new qualification that all sixth formers can take to show what they are capable of when given the chance. There is no formal teaching, and there are no exams.

Students choose the topic they wish to investigate, and will be entirely responsible for the project content. A tutor is assigned to teach the basic skills required to realise the project. Some skills will be relevant to all projects: time management, research, organisation… but others will be very specific to the project carried out by a student: conducting a survey or completing a risk assessment, for instance.

The project, once finished, can be either a 5000 word written investigation, or a “production” by the student: this could be an artefact, a website, a performance, a novel, the organisation of an event, a blog, directing a play… in that case, a 1000 word document will complement the project.

Students also have to submit a production log which records planning and progress, including the review meetings with their supervisor.

Finally, students will need to make an oral presentation of their project in front of an audience.

Assessment

We have chosen AQA as our board.

The students’ work is assessed and moderated by the teachers, before being submitted to the board. Marks are awarded as follows:
Project Management Skills: 20%
Effective use of resources: 20%
Developing and realising the project: 40%
Review / evaluation of own performance: 20%

The project is equivalent to half an A level and is graded in the same way. So an A* grade would give 70 UCAS points, an A 60, a B 50, a C 40, a D 30 and an E 20.

The EPQ is invaluable in terms of improving independent learning. Embarking on such a project is a very good way for students to prepare themselves for University style learning.

Furthermore, an extra qualification could be the means of distinguishing between equally good students when it comes to University applications.