ALONGSIDE the fabulous A Level results from the class of 2019, we are thrilled to share the equally excellent results from our EPQ students.

The EPQ, or Extended Project Qualification, is a rigorous academic qualification that students take alongside the subjects that they are studying in school. They are expected to produce a 5,000 word essay which evaluates a debatable topic in an academic field of interest. Alongside this, they must keep an extensive log reflecting on the processes of their work, and give a presentation to an audience of their peers. We think this is a hugely valuable qualification as it not only allows them to explore their chosen degree subject in greater depth, but also teaches them some of the academic skills, such as referencing and engaging with critics, that they require in their studies at university.

This year we had 33 students who undertook the qualification and we are delighted that they were recognised for their hard work, with 16 of the students receiving an A grade and 17 students receiving an A*. A particular mention must go to the Abhinandan Chatterjee, who received full marks for his work.

We had a wide range of topics covered with such diverse titles as: “Given the increasingly prevalent threat of antibiotic resistance, is the development and use of new antibiotics, or the use of bacteriophage therapy the more viable strategy for the future in treating pathogenic bacterial infections?”, “Is metropolitan, peripheral or international theory of the most significance when explaining the cause of decolonisation in the Gold Coast? and “Should Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad be seen as racist or progressive for its time?”. The current Year 13 EPQ students have their presentations over the next few weeks, and the Year 12s will have the opportunity to opt to complete an EPQ later this term. We look forward to their continued success!