This subject is offered through the Electives programme only.

EPQ – Pershore High School (AQA)

What is the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)?

EPQ is an A-level standard standalone qualification designed to extend and develop your abilities beyond the A-level syllabus and prepare you for university or your future career.

• It can be taken as an extension of other Level 3 qualifications or vocational qualifications
• It is worth half an A-level (28 UCAS points)
• It is recognised by universities and employers
• Many universities make lower A-level offers to students undertaking an EPQ

How it works

The EPQ allows you to lead your own project. You have to plan and carry out research on a topic that you have chosen and is one not covered by your other qualifications. You could take inspiration from something touched on in class or something personal and unrelated to your studies. You then use this research to produce a 5,000-word written report and, in the case of practical projects, an artefact or a production and a 1,000-word report.

By taking responsibility for the choice, design and decision making of an individual project (or an individual role in a group project) you:

• become more critical, reflective and independent as a learner
• develop and apply decision-making and problem-solving skills
• increase your planning, research, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and presentation skills
• learn to apply technologies confidently
• demonstrate creativity, initiative and enterprise

For more information about this course please contact Mr Walden kw@pershore.worcs.sch.uk

 The EPQ was created in response to universities asking for students to have better independent study skills. You will be taught certain skills via a structured weekly programme, including research, ethics, referencing, presentation, essay writing etc.

You will also be assigned a Supervisor who will act as a guide through your project journey. However, your project will be under your control, in terms of the topic, nature of the outcome, timetable and pace. You can choose to explore a further aspect of a subject you are studying, or another subject, or simply choose a topic in which you have a personal interest. Your research will largely be of secondary sources but you will be encouraged to include primary research if it would add to your project.

The finished project can be an essay, a performance, a piece of art, a publication, a presentation or lesson, a community project, an electronic product or even computer software. The choice is only really limited by your imagination. Project titles chosen by our students recently have been incredibly diverse.

See below for previous project titles.

The level of choice and flexibility means that you will be engaged and motivated and gain valuable research, project management and presentation skills along the way. Your Project is assessed internally by your Supervisor and moderated by AQA.

Your ability to do the following will be assessed:

• Manage (20%)
• Use Resources (20%)
• Develop and Realise (40%)
• Review (20%).

The evidence for assessment will comprise a Production Log, a written report (1000 or 5000 words), evidence as appropriate e.g. PowerPoint presentation, CD/DVD, journal, photos, artefact etc. and a presentation.

We use the excellent Project Q platform (www.projectq.co) for managing the Production Log and overall project process.

The AQA EPQ home page is:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/projects/project-qualifications/EPQ-7993

The benefits of an EPQ, including a short video at:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/projects/project-qualifications/EPQ-7993/why-choose

University of Bath’s guide (with video) to how the EPQ can help your university application:

https://www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/taking-the-epq-to-strengthen-your-course-application/