Prior Park celebrates EPQ success

Seven Prior Park students are celebrating after achieving an impressive total average of 86% in their Extended Project Qualification projects.

Sixth form students Jonathan Raby, Alex Brant, Harry Ager and Sarah Dalrymple each achieved A*-grades whilst Marie-Louise Kertzman and Jessica Wheeler attained A-grades and Luke Nowlan achieved a B-grade.

The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) was introduced in 2008 as part of the Government’s ‘Stretch and Challenge’ Agenda. It is a stand-alone, A2 Level equivalent qualification, which is graded A*-E. The EPQ was introduced to Prior Park at the beginning of the last academic year.

Jonathan Raby achieved an exceptional 100% after submitting his assignment on the ‘flu virus entitled, ‘Could Science Prevent the Next Pandemic?’

Alex Brant’s project was entitled, ‘To what extent has the advance of aircraft propulsion systems been limited by the lack of significant technological advance?’ Harry Ager’s assignment covered the topic, ‘Who, or what, is Satan in 'Paradise Lost?' Sarah Dalrymple explored the subject, ‘To what extent can stem cell therapies be used to treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?’

Marie-Louise Kertzman’s project was entitled, ‘Why do home circumstances affect children's achievement and success in school? Can anything be done to help?’ Jessica Wheeler’s assignment covered the subject, ‘What does it mean for a proposition of law to be true?’ Luke Nolan discussed the topic, ‘Should acupuncture be more widely available on the NHS?’

Prior Park EPQ Co-ordinator, Dr Robert Willmott, comments:

“We have been overwhelmed by the success of the EPQ so far, especially as this is the first year we have run the qualification at the College. The students have worked exceptionally hard to achieve their grades, which are truly outstanding. We have even smashed the national average for both state and independent schools in the UK - by 21% and 10% respectively.

“I was extremely impressed by the wide range of fascinating yet controversial topics that the students chose to study and also how they tackled them. I am confident that the EPQ at Prior Park will continue to be a success, as we expect that a further 20 students will undertake EPQ’s during 2011.”