Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

The level 3 Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is certainly highly valued by admission tutors and allows students the opportunity to study a particular area of interest in real detail and could give students the edge at interviews for the most competitive courses at the most competitive universities.

The qualification is worth 50% of an A level in terms of the UCAS points available and can really help students achieve the points required to gain entry to university. Each institution values the EPQ differently so we advise students to research this in detail but there is no doubt that the skills developed through completing this will really help at the next level as the structure is much more aligned with how universities will assess students and gives the students the skills of referencing, and evaluating sources.

The Level 3 Extended project gives learners the opportunity to:

• Have a significant input to the choice and design of an extended project and take responsibility either for an individual task or for a defined task within a group project.
• Develop and improve their own learning and performance as critical, reflective and independent learners.
• Develop and apply decision making and, where appropriate, problem solving skills; extend their planning, research, critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and presentation skills.
• Develop as e-confident learners and apply new technologies in their studies.
• Develop and apply skills creatively demonstrating initiative and enterprise.
• Use their learning experiences to support their personal aspirations for further study and/or career development.

The EPQ is offered as a choice to all year 12 students and there will be a discreet period timetabled each week for students to attend some taught lessons in the first instance and then to have time to work on their chosen project. The students will also be allocated an EPQ supervisor that they are expected to meet several times during the year to discuss and evaluate progress and to ensure that everything is moving forward as required.