Extended Project Qualification

Extended Project Qualification
Name	Extended Project Qualification
Abbrev	EPQ
Type	Qualification
Awarded by	AQA, OCR, Edexcel
Country	United Kingdom
Level	Level 3
Typical age	16–19
First awarded	2006

Extended Project Qualification

The Extended Project Qualification is a standalone Level 3 qualification studied predominantly by students in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland that develops independent research and project management skills. It is offered by major awarding bodies such as AQA, OCR, and Edexcel and is commonly taken alongside qualifications like A-level, BTEC National Diploma, and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Universities including University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London and employers such as BBC, Rolls-Royce, NHS often recognise EPQs when considering admissions or recruitment.

Overview

The qualification requires learners to plan, research, and produce either a 5,000-word dissertation, an artefact with a supporting report, an investigative report, or a performance portfolio, aligning with standards used by institutions like Russell Group universities and professional bodies such as Royal Society. Typical project topics range from humanities subjects linked to Shakespeare or World War II to sciences related to Isaac Newton or Marie Curie and contemporary issues involving United Nations themes or European Union policy debates. Centres administering the course include secondary schools, sixth-form colleges such as Hills Road Sixth Form College, and independent providers like Kaplan.

History and Development

Introduced in the mid-2000s, the qualification was developed in response to policy reviews involving Department for Education reforms and recommendations from advisory groups tied to organisations such as Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and later Ofqual. Early pilots involved collaborations with universities including University of Manchester and King's College London and stakeholder consultation with awarding bodies like AQA and OCR. Subsequent changes were influenced by broader curriculum initiatives such as the Tomlinson Report and debates linked to reforms championed by ministers including Michael Gove and advisors associated with Education Select Committee inquiries.

Structure and Assessment

Learners undertake supervised and unsupervised activity to produce a major project, assessed internally by centre staff and moderated by awarding organisations like Edexcel or OCR. Assessment criteria focus on research planning, project management, critical analysis, and presentation skills—competences valued by institutions like British Academy and employers such as PwC and KPMG. Typical assessment components mirror academic processes found at University of Birmingham and London School of Economics: proposal approval, interim review, final submission, and a viva or presentation sometimes involving external examiners from local universities or industry partners including Siemens.

Grading and UCAS Points

The EPQ is graded on an A*–E scale consistent with other Level 3 qualifications and has assigned UCAS tariff points that universities factor into offers alongside A-level grades and BTEC results. Changes to tariff allocations have been discussed by UCAS and higher-education committees at institutions such as University of Leeds and University of Bristol. Some universities in the Russell Group explicitly state how EPQ achievement can be used to contextualise offers, while professional training providers like Bar Standards Board and General Medical Council note EPQ relevance for demonstrable skills.

Implementation in Schools and Colleges

Implementation models vary: some sixth forms such as Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School integrate the course into timetables; further education colleges like City of Bristol College run it as an optional enrichment; independent schools including Eton College offer bespoke supervision. Teacher roles often include internal assessors trained through awarding bodies like AQA and professional development programmes by organisations such as NAHT or ASCL. Partnerships with local universities such as University of Warwick or employers like J.P. Morgan can provide mentorship, resources, or topic supervision.

Recognition and Progression

The EPQ is recognised by many higher-education institutions including University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, and professional bodies like Royal Institute of British Architects and Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. It is cited on UCAS applications and can be used to support applications to postgraduate pathways at institutions such as University of Manchester or apprenticeship schemes with employers like BAE Systems and National Grid.

Criticisms and Reforms

Critiques have focused on variable delivery quality across centres, workload pressures reported by students at schools such as Wimbledon High School and colleges like Brooklands College, and debate over consistent weighting in admissions by universities including Durham University and University of Exeter. Reform discussions involve regulatory bodies like Ofqual and awarding organisations such as Edexcel to improve moderation, standardisation, and teacher training drawn from examples used by Scottish Qualifications Authority and international comparators like International Baccalaureate Organization.

Category:Vocational qualifications in the United Kingdom