We are immensely proud of our students’ outstanding performance in this year’s Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), with an exceptional 95% of students achieving either an A or A* grade. This is representative of grades achieved by students over the last 5 years.
What is an EPQ?
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is a prestigious Level 3 qualification taken alongside A-levels at Burgess Hill Girls. Unlike conventional exams, the EPQ challenges students to undertake an independent, in-depth research project of their own choosing that is of personal interest to them. They go on to hone their research area into a finely tuned research question that they then interrogate. There is huge flexibility with this and at Burgess Hill Girls, topics considering whether the drama ‘Fleabag’ is truly feminist, if carbon capture is valuable, and why we still read fairy stories have all been written about with great success.
Students are required to:
- Develop a project plan
- Conduct thorough research and critically analyse sources
- Write a detailed analytical report
- Draw conclusions
- Evaluate their entire research process
These skills are invaluable for university-level study, which is why many universities look favourably on the EPQ, with some even reduce their standard offer for students who achieve an excellent EPQ grade.
Innovative Project Topics
At Burgess Hill Girls, every sixth form student has the opportunity to pursue an EPQ. This year, our students explored fascinatingly diverse topics, demonstrating remarkable intellectual curiosity:
- Can gluten intolerance exacerbate symptoms of neurodivergence?
- Why is animation film less respected compared to live action?
- Is direct cash or ‘in-kind’ aid more effective at reducing poverty?
- Given social and cultural factors, should autonomous weapons systems be used in warfare?
- How can dance improve cognitive repair in individuals suffering from neurodegenerative diseases?
Skills Developed Through the EPQ
Through this challenging qualification, our students significantly enhanced their academic capabilities by:
- Gaining deeper and nuanced understanding of their chosen research area
- Mastering the art of writing large academic essays
- Developing skills in extracting and analysing information from complex scientific reports
- Learning advanced referencing techniques (Oxford and Harvard styles)
- Honing research skills, particularly in scientific literature
- Exploring and expanding personal academic interests
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is a fantastic learning experience that prepares our students for the intellectual challenges of higher education and beyond. The range of subjects and universities valuing it continues to grow, with 40% of this year’s offers – many from Russell Group universities – being lowered because students had completed the qualification. Many of our Oxbridge and medic candidates have successfully discussed their EPQ projects during interviews, demonstrating its practical value. Cambridge University research supports this approach, showing that students who complete an EPQ achieve greater success at degree level and are less likely to drop out of their university courses.
Jenny Scopes, Centre Coordinator for HPQ and EPQ at Burgess Hill Girls says ‘Whilst our grade success is of extreme importance, one of our greatest achievements is the wide range of topics the girls choose. They are as individual, intellectually curious and challenging as the girls themselves. During the presentation each gives at the end of their journey, the evident enthusiasm for their EPQ and their high level of expertise when answering questions is a pleasure to witness. It is academic rigour at its best.’
Congratulations to all our EPQ students on their remarkable achievements!