The Extended Project Qualification at Bishop’s Stortford College

06 Feb 2017

Upper Sixth students at Bishop’s Stortford College have presented their Extended Project Qualification research, covering a wide variety of topics.

Bishop’s Stortford College Upper Sixth Formers recently presented their Extended Project Qualification work to an audience of their peers, College staff, parents and Governors.

The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is an AS qualification that allows students free rein to follow their passions and produce a piece of research on a subject of their choice.  During their research, students have to demonstrate complete independence from their supervisors, developing their own skills in investigation, IT, presentation and evaluation.  Head of Sixth Form Linda Dickinson commented, “These skills are vital for success at university and will also equip these young men and women for life beyond the classroom.”

This year, the students’ topics included cryptography, animation, Jane Austen and game theory.  There were presentations given on the effects of Addison’s Disease, interstellar space travel and one project posed the question, ‘Are psychopaths created through nature or nurture?’.  Students presented their projects on 20th January at the College, each giving a mini lecture and then answering questions from their audience. Linda Dickinson said, “It was quite remarkable to see both the knowledge and confidence with which the students handled the afternoon. My sincere congratulations to all the students who were not only so professional in their delivery but also very impressive in their knowledge and passion for their subjects.”

Students take the optional EPQ alongside their A level subjects. In 2016, Bishop’s Stortford College Sixth Formers celebrated a fantastic set of A level results with 81% of students achieving A*-B and 92% A*-C.