Extended Project Qualification

EPQ

Study a topic of your choice, in a way that suits your preferred learning style. An EPQ will develop and demonstrate your self-discipline, creative and critical thinking, resilience and independent research skills to universities and employers in the future.

What is an EPQ?

We encourage all our students to complete the Extended Project Qualification. This formal qualification is worth up to 28 UCAS points and is awarded for an independent research project on a topic of your choosing and the completion of one of the following:

  • Research-based written report
  • Production (e.g. a charity event, fashion show or sports event)
  • An artefact (e.g. a piece of art, computer game or realised design)

It is a chance to be original and individual, free from the limited syllabus structure of A Levels. We support all our students in pursuing topics that reflect their unique talents.

The EPQ at St Mary's

In 2022, 58% of EPQ students achieved an impressive A* grade and 85% gained A*/A grades

We offer exceptional support to ensure you get the most out of the EPQ qualification, including 30 hours of guided learning to enable you to develop key skills such as:

  • Independent research
  • Identifying suitable sources of information
  • Project management skills 
  • Referencing techniques

Our students also benefit from support from Cambridge University departments, with recent examples including:

  • Support from the Autism Research Centre
  • Access to key manuscripts and music
  • Personal support for a project on medieval art work

 

How it works

The EPQ is undertaken during the Lower Sixth, continuing until the following Autumn Term of Upper Sixth.

30 guided learning hours

There are 30 guided learning hours for taught skills (approximately a quarter of the overall time for the EPQ), covering:

  • Research skills including the ability to search for and identify suitable sources of information.
  • Skills or techniques required for safe and effective execution of the project that not part of a student's course of study. For example safe laboratory or workshop techniques, professional codes of practice, ethical guidelines and research methodology.
  • ICT skills to enhance report production and/or the development of the project.
  • Project management skills including time, resource and task management.
  • Format and structure of accepted academic forms of research report.
  • Referencing, the evaluation of sources and the prevention of plagiarism.
  • Presentation skills.

Autumn Term (Year 12)

  • Autumn Term (Year 12), students kick off their project, supported by our EPQ Co-ordinator. Two lessons per fortnight explore ethical and practical considerations of research projects. Critical thinking skills such as planning and Gantt charts; critical analysis; credibility criteria; research methods; interviewing techniques; surveying tactics; interpreting statistics; report writing, and much more are considered.
  • By February, most students have selected their topic and begin four one-to-one meetings with our EPQ Co-ordinator allows time to discuss, finalise and review their research project.
  • In June, another one-to-one meeting takes place, once the initial research has been completed.
  • Over summer, girls will undertake primary research – for instance through surveys and questionnaires or site visits – analysing the information they have found, and beginning to construct their projects.
  • In November (Year 13), a third one-to-one meeting, in which students can discuss their summer progress and iron out any issues.
  • In December, after a final one-to-one meeting, students finalise their project ready for submission before the Christmas break.

EPQ topics at St Mary's are diverse, innovative and challenging. Here is just a flavour of some of the recent themes covered by our students:

Photographing life in lockdown versus life out of lockdown

The mental health and social impact of Covid-19 on individuals with Autism

Research fashion by decade with a view to designing an outfit based on these genres

A beginner’s guide to British law and politics

How does social media affect people?

Designing and building a Garden Hut

Research in supporting individuals with speech and language impairment using augmentative and alternative communication tools to communicate

Designing and creating a sustainable wedding dress

My origin - an exploration of inheritance and culture

Guide to the season six technical challenges of The Great British Bake Off

Designing and producing diamond jewellery

The study, design, realisation and sale of effective medical masks

Creating an edited film using raw footage to show an improvement in my skills in post-production

The difference between an endurance runner and a sprinter – including following and completing a half marathon

Using social media to promote mental health and mental disorders like Dissociative Identity Disorder

The effect of Covid-19 in LIDCs – (low income developing countries)

How Covid-19 has impacted UK charity clothing shops

Creating a guide to the Iranian hostage crisis

Creating a low cost cook book

The use of colour in interior design

To what extent can someone with a full life with Sickle Cell Disease?

Creation of a zero waste cook book

Is cosmetic dentistry ethical?

What made the West African Ebola epidemic (2013-2016) the worst ever in history?

Designing and knitting a reusable plastic bag out of single-use plastic bags

The decline of languages

“University admissions officers hold the EPQ qualification in extremely high regard.The primary, and enduring, benefit of the project, however, is the key skills the girls develop simply by working through the project process. For university admissions officers, future employers and colleagues, and even for the girls themselves, these skills are invaluable.” St Mary's Sixth Form EPQ Co-ordinator

“Students could use their project at interview stage and/or in their UCAS personal statement. Certain courses at the University will count ‘A’ grades achieved in the extended project towards their entry criteria.” University of Southampton

"The EPQ is a definite strength in an application. It can create the heartland of a personal statement and give it depth and substance.” Sheila Cosgrove, University of York, Admissions Administrator

Catherine Z. Student

“I learnt how to find valuable and valid sources and combine them together to form a coherent argument. It also helped me to organise my time well, as I had to set time aside for myself to work on the project in my free time. ”

University of Manchester

“The skills that students develop through the EPQ are excellent preparation for university-level study.”