By Mrs Yeomans (English Teacher and EPQ Coordinator)

This week marked a pivotal moment in the EPQ journey for our Upper Sixth students as they presented their findings and reflected on their research. The EPQ presentation is a requirement for all students to convey their research and findings to a non-specialist audience. The topics covered were diverse and encompassed a wide range of subjects, from considering the extent to which poisonous characters and items in Kirby games are realistic compared to their real-life counterparts to questioning if the use of AI in low-cost airlines is a threat to operational safety, and even creating an online business with a storytelling marketing strategy.

Throughout the taught course, students have received valuable sessions from The University of Sheffield and FutureLearn. They've also benefited from sessions on referencing and research techniques provided by Mrs Rodgers in the Learning Resources Centre. However, it's worth noting that a significant portion of the project is self-directed, which serves as a testament to the students’ own project planning and organisational skills.

I was particularly impressed by the range of topics that students produced. The EPQ is an excellent chance to challenge and extend students through a self-directed approach.  Some will find their projects invaluable at university interviews or on personal statements and some are passion projects to indulge interests that go beyond the curriculum.

The cohort will be finalising their reports between now and the end of the term to fully focus on their other A Level studies and exams.