Cranleigh School launches Pearson EPQ Express to help learners carry out project work at home

Pearson, working with Cranleigh School, has developed free support materials for the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) that can help incoming Year 13 pupils to fast track their EPQs.

It’s part of a new suite offree support for schools on project learning that can be used alongside the Project Qualification or as standalone support for KS3, 4 and 5 subject teaching and learning.

These resources include a webinar series on the principles of project learning by Dr John Taylor, Cranleigh's Director of Learning, Teaching and Innovation, an online toolkit for delivering the EPQ in a digital classroom, and an information guide on the Express qualification. 

Cranleigh, Surrey’s leading independent co-educational boarding school, has already pioneered this approach to remote learning and will be starting EPQ pilots with its own Year 11 pupils in the summer term. They’ll take it alongside bridging the gap A Level courses, and the preparation for potential examinations in September.

The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) 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.

EPQ Express will help teachers to manage students through the process of choosing a title, planning the project, undertaking the research and assessing the outcome before final moderation. It will develop skills in independent research and guide students into higher education. It’s a great way for schools to start the EPQ whilst pupils are remote learning.

Pearson will be releasing more support over the next month, including free online teaching training and student-webinars covering key project and research excellence skills. 

Roberta Thomson, Product Director at Pearson said: "At Pearson, we're committed to ensuring that young people are learning skills they need for their futures. Our new EPQ Express gives learners a focused learning experience in an unsettling time, and we're proud of this initiative that enables learners to gain a further qualification, develop new skills and enhance their knowledge."

Dr John Taylor, Cranleigh’s Director of Learning, Teaching and Innovation, was a key figure in the development of the EPQ and has embedded the qualification there. 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.

He added: “Examiners praise the EPQ as an in-depth, autonomous piece of work that hones creative thinking skills. We’re delighted to have the opportunity to work with Pearson to help make this approach to in-depth project work available to many other schools.

“For Cranleigh it’s also the perfect solution for Year 11 pupils who have missed out on GCSEs this summer. We are helping them to set up Pilot EPQs that will keep them focused on academics as well as being good grounding for the rigours of A Level work."

Dr Taylor discusses the benefits of project learning and remote learning strategies in Pearson’s new Future Ready Today Podcast. Last term, Cranleigh students in all year groups enjoyed excellent remote learning in all subjects, as well as virtual tutor groups and online wellbeing strategies.

Examples of recent Cranleigh EPQ projects can be viewed here. 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.

About Cranleigh School

Cranleigh is Surrey's leading co-educational boarding school with 670 pupils aged 13-18. With 280 acres in the Surrey Hills and amazing academic and sports facilities, Cranleigh is large enough to provide a wealth of opportunity and small enough to every member of the community to know one another.

About Pearson

We are the world’s learning company with more than 22,500 employees operating in 70 countries. We provide content, assessment and digital services to learners, educational institutions, employers, governments and other partners globally. We are committed to helping equip learners with the skills they need to enhance their employability prospects and to succeed in the changing world of work. We believe that wherever learning flourishes so do people. For more information, visit www.Pearson.com.