This week, A2 students participating in the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) presented their projects to staff, fellow students and parents. 

The poster presentation event moved to the Sports Hall last year due to the record numbers of students participating on the EPQ programme!

The EPQ is an additional qualification that students can take alongside their studies. It is worth half an A-Level and allows students to develop their personal interests and create a project around a particular topic. Through taking part in the EPQ, students have gained skills in time management, academic writing, researching and presenting. These skills can be transferred through their life post college.

A wide range of niche and interesting topic areas were explored by students, including:

• World War One Poetry
• Effects of Music Therapy on Neuroplasticity and emotional wellbeing
• Time as an illusion
• The French Revolution – was Louis XVI responsible?
• The Impact of Social Media on Society
• Factors Influencing Skyscraper Design
• Stockholm Syndrome
• Links between Populism and Hairstyles
• Affects of AI
• Pre-Ice Civilisation
• The importance of Sleep
• Alzheimer's: Can you forget addiction?

and lots more!

There is a record number of students taking EPQ this year, highlighting the year on year growth of such a valuable qualification. 

EPQ Coordinator, Rachel Allen said:

"With 180 students presenting this year, the atmosphere was incredible! The students really embraced presenting their projects, and used this opportunity to demonstrate the hard work and effort they have put in throughout the duration of completing their EPQ. From research, academic writing, time management, referencing, their skills developed were clearly on show throughout the event, demonstrating what they are truly capable of. A huge WELL DONE to all the students, you were amazing!”

Speaking passionately about the EPQ programme, Dr Damian Windle, Head of The XL Academy at Ashton said:

“This was a phenomenal day and testament to all the hard work from the EPQ staff and students. As one of the biggest centres of EPQ in the country these presentations clearly put ASFC on the map in our bid to become an EPQ Centre of Excellence, Well Done to Rachel and her amazing team”

A huge well done to all students who participated in the poster presentations!

EPQ 2024