Cranleigh School EPQ success

Cranleigh School is celebrating another excellent set of Extended Project Qualification results, and has tasked Year 11 pupils who'll miss out on GCSEs to start their own EPQs early.

Dr John Taylor, Cranleigh's Director of Learning, Teaching and Innovation, was a key figure in the development of the EPQ. The qualification asks students to undertake a longer piece of research culminating in a dissertation style essay or the production of an artefact. It's now widely used as a preparation for university learning by schools and sixth form centres across the country.

Most Sixth Formers at Cranleigh take an EPQ alongside studying for three A Levels. This year's results were outstanding, with 81% of all EPQs graded at A*-B.

Dr Taylor said: "We were delighted with the response this year and the results were well deserved. Students made good use of the performance and artefact units and produced some outstanding quality creative work, including a spectacular fashion and photography show as well as thought provoking art and design projects."

Examiners praise the EPQ for helping students to develop their skills in independent research and guide them into higher education. As an in-depth, autonomous piece of work that hones creative thinking skills, it's also the perfect solution for Year 11 pupils who have missed out on GCSEs this summer.

Cranleigh's Deputy Head Academic, Mr David Boggitt, said: "We feel deeply sorry for all those pupils who have worked so hard for exams this year that will not get their chance to take them as planned. Whilst we continue with remote learning for both those year groups, and will support all pupils through the grading system and prepare them for taking exams as necessary in September, the EPQ is the perfect preparation for Year 11s that will start Sixth Form in September. This year group were the first to take the Philosophy Certificate so they are already familiar with extended projects. Students will be supported through the process of choosing their project, planning the research and creating a pilot EPQ during the Summer term.

"At the same time they will undertake some bridging the gap A Level courses to keep them focused on academics as well as being good grounding for the rigours of A Level work."

Whilst government restrictions keep schools closed to pupils, Cranleigh will continue to deliver online lessons across all other year groups.