Extended Project Qualification

Extended Project Qualification*

What is the Extended Project Qualification?
This is a Level 3 qualification equivalent to half an "A" level. It is graded, and carries the same UCAS points, as an AS level except that an A* grade is available. The qualification is available nationally from September 08. Greenhead students have been part of the AQA pilot study. At Greenhead we offer EPQ to AS students as they embark on their A2 courses.

The background
The Government, as part of its education reform programme, wishes "A" level courses to provide "stretch and challenge". EPQ will offer you an opportunity to produce an extended piece of work, either in an area that you are studying or in which you have a particular interest eg. Voluntary service

Why choose the Extended Project?

• The Extended Project offers students a unique opportunity to develop essential skills for higher education and the workplace, in a subject area of their own choice.
• The Extended Project gives students more control over their study than ever before. You have a free choice of project topic, so you can choose to explore a further aspect of a subject you're studying, or another subject, or choose a topic in which you have a personal interest.
• This level of choice and flexibility means students are engaged and motivated, and gain valuable research and project management skills along the way.

How is it taught?
This is an independent piece of research. You will meet with a member of staff (supervisor) weekly to discuss your progress and to guide you and help you develop the necessary skills to complete a successful project eg. Referencing and research skills.

What is expected of you?
Students have to:

• Choose a topic to study,
• Complete a production log to document the project process,
• Plan, research and carry out their project, and
• Prepare and deliver a presentation on the outcome.

How is it assessed?
The assessment covers both the process and the end product. The final project, plus the production log, will be assessed as a whole, according to a generic set of marking criteria. We'll be looking at how well students identify and use resources, carry out research, develop their ideas to realise an outcome and then reflect on the outcome and the process.

What range of topics do students choose?
EPQ Project Titles 2007/08

1. Global Warming - Is the threat real?
2. Aspects of disease
3. All in the mind? - An exploration of the perceptions of mental health & learning disability disorders
4. Cystic Fibrosis - Is gene therapy the answer?
5. What are the inequalities faced by female police officers?
6. Career aspirations and expectations of ethnic minority women
7. A linguistic and literary exploration into 17th Century Religious sonnets
8. Democratic or Autocratic- which is the most effective management style?
9. Thalidomide : Friend or foe?
10. Response to population pressures
11. Antibiotics and the dangers of resistance
12. Thalidomide - the future?
13. Maths and its everyday uses
14. Childhood obesity - What are the problems?
15. Pancreatic cancer - - Is gene therapy the answer?
16. The application of nuclear fusion to Power Generation
17. Tipping the balance - Terrorism & the 2004 Spanish General Election

Examples of students' work

• Student Project: Title - Tipping the balance? Terrorism and the 2004 Spanish election
• Student Presentation: Title - Population pressures
• Student Log Book: Title - Population pressures

Examination results
In the academic year 2007/8 15 students completed the EPQ.
13 of them gained a Grade A

Student comments

Teachers' Resources

• Conference presentation
• Helping with your research
• Midterm review
• End of project review
• Project monitoring check list
• Promotional poster