EPQ Market Place

Year 13 Share their findings from the Extended Project

EPQ Market Place Presentation Event

21st November 2017

On the 21st of November 90 year 13 pupils took part in the Extended Project qualification market place presentation event in the hall. This is an important fixture in the Balcarras sixth form calendar as it celebrates both the dedication and diligence undertaken by our sixth form students and fulfils the presentation element of the qualification. The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is an independent research qualification, on a student’s own selected topic, which all our sixth form students undertake alongside their AS subjects in year 12 and many complete in year 13. In terms of UCAS points it is worth half an A level. Moreover, many university courses lower a student’s grade offer, required to gain a place on a degree course, on condition that they obtain an A in the EPQ. The taught element of the EPQ teaches our students a multitude of essential and useful academic skills in preparation for year 13 study and University education. Skills include; how to undertake effective research, honing a research question, Harvard referencing, organisation and time management, high quality essay writing and structuring etcetera. The Market Place Presentation Event was the culmination of all of the students' hard work.   It allowed Year 13 students to present and evaluate the successes and failures of their project to both their EPQ supervisor and a wider audience.

The event presented an impressive and diverse range of intriguing topics, and research undertaken was detailed and of a high standard.  Students spoke eloquently about both the nature of research undertaken and the management of their project to a wealth of visitors at the event; including the current year 12 cohort, selected year 11 students, members of staff and the school’s senior management team.  The event’s atmosphere was exciting and stimulating as students spoke passionately about the improvement in their own learning and knowledge gained. All supervisors were immensely proud of the hard work and independent drive which our students have shown throughout the course.  We strongly believe that the skill set gained from both the presentation event and the whole process of the EPQ will stand them in very good stead when starting University next year and we wish them every success.

To see more photos of the event, see here

Mrs Leach and Miss Porter

EPQ Co-ordinators