Pupils picked a topic of personal interest at the start of the Autumn term, then carried out more than 90 hours of research during the academic year, before writing a 5,000-word report, or creating an artefact, and giving a presentation.
Patrick Ost, EPQ Co-ordinator at Dauntsey’s, said:
“The EPQ continues to be very popular with universities. It’s valued for its emphasis on independent research, self-motivation and organisation, all valuable skills to take into the world of further education.
“Completing an EPQ is no mean feat but it enables students to explore a topic which either complements their A-levels or focuses on a completely unrelated topic. Congratulations to everyone for these excellent results; there can be little doubt that the students’ hard work, time and dedication has paid off.”
The pupils’ project topics underline the breadth of academic curiosity at Dauntsey’s. Subjects included:
Analysis of how modern technology has affected the relevance of traditional war ethics
The building of a solar powered air conditioning system for kennels
A leaflet aimed at helping sports-people with diabetes manage their condition
An original dystopian short story
An evaluation of prescription opioids in the treatment of chronic and acute pain
An evaluation of assault weapon laws in the prevention of violent firearm crimes
As Sixth Formers battle for places at top universities, the EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) has become increasingly popular. Most students opt to complete their EPQ by writing an essay on virtually any topic. The marking of the essay is designed to reflect the skills needed at university, with 20% for planning and managing the workload, 20% for use of resources, 40% for developing and realising the project and 20% for reviewing it. Many universities will lower their A-level grade requirements if applicants achieve a high score for their EPQ.
For further information about Dauntsey’s School, please go to www.dauntseys.org or follow us on Twitter at Dauntsey’s@DauntseysSchool
Photograph shows: Leavers and Staff from Dauntsey’s celebrated a superb set of EPQ results this year