Extended Project Qualification

If you have a passion for a topic that you don’t cover at A level, want to deepen your knowledge of the subject you intend to study at university or wish to develop an aspect of your musicianship further, then you should consider the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).

Universities are looking for pupils who can demonstrate autonomous interest in a subject and the EPQ can do just that, showing motivation to achieve something that requires commitment, organisation, good time management and the ability to seek out and take on board advice. In addition to all of this, as part of the EPQ, you learn to research, reference and evaluate sources, and develop presentation and writing skills. When applying to university, the EPQ gives you a specialist topic to discuss as well as a wealth of evidence of the valued competencies that will impress university admissions officers.

As an EPQ pupil at Wells, you will be assigned a supervisor who will guide you through the project, week by week, giving advice and helping you to think about your planning, research and evaluation. You will also follow a taught research skills course in which you will learn a variety of the skills that will not only become an important aspect of your EPQ but that will also form an essential skill set for university study and beyond.

Most pupils begin the EPQ course in November of Lower Sixth, submitting their final projects in November of Upper Sixth. Whatever your interest and whatever your primary motivation, the EPQ can fit alongside your other commitments at Wells, enhancing your Sixth Form experience and beyond.

So what exactly is the EPQ?

The EPQ is a unique qualification, assessed by A level criteria (therefore it is possible to gain an A*), but worth the equivalent of an AS Level in UCAS points. Past projects from Wells pupils have been as diverse as looking at the effect that Chanel’s life had on her work, building a sports coaching website, and answering the question, “Should badgers be culled in an attempt to control Bovine Tuberculosis in the UK?”.

An EPQ could include: • A design • A report with findings from an investigation • • • or study A dissertation presenting an argument An artefact A performance

Music-based EPQ

For musicians at Wells, the EPQ presents an opportunity to research an aspect of your instrument or technique whilst at the same time gaining a respected qualification. Previous music-based EPQ projects have included wide-ranging aspects of music and musicianship (all of which could enhance any music college application), for example looking at how the original playing style of pieces on Baroque trumpets can influence that of modern day trumpets