The EPQ is undertaken during the Lower Sixth, continuing until the following Autumn Term of Upper Sixth.
30 guided learning hours
There are 30 guided learning hours for taught skills (approximately a quarter of the overall time for the EPQ), covering:
- Research skills including the ability to search for and identify suitable sources of information.
- Skills or techniques required for safe and effective execution of the project that not part of a student's course of study. For example safe laboratory or workshop techniques, professional codes of practice, ethical guidelines and research methodology.
- ICT skills to enhance report production and/or the development of the project.
- Project management skills including time, resource and task management.
- Format and structure of accepted academic forms of research report.
- Referencing, the evaluation of sources and the prevention of plagiarism.
- Presentation skills.
Autumn Term (Year 12)
- Autumn Term (Year 12), students kick off their project, supported by our EPQ Co-ordinator. Two lessons per fortnight explore ethical and practical considerations of research projects. Critical thinking skills such as planning and Gantt charts; critical analysis; credibility criteria; research methods; interviewing techniques; surveying tactics; interpreting statistics; report writing, and much more are considered.
- By February, most students have selected their topic and begin four one-to-one meetings with our EPQ Co-ordinator allows time to discuss, finalise and review their research project.
- In June, another one-to-one meeting takes place, once the initial research has been completed.
- Over summer, girls will undertake primary research – for instance through surveys and questionnaires or site visits – analysing the information they have found, and beginning to construct their projects.
- In November (Year 13), a third one-to-one meeting, in which students can discuss their summer progress and iron out any issues.
- In December, after a final one-to-one meeting, students finalise their project ready for submission before the Christmas break.