Celebrating Another Successful Year of Extended Project Qualifications 

It has been another successful and exciting year for our extracurricular Extended Project Qualification programme. Each EPQ is shaped by the interests, ideas and ambitions of the individual student, meaning that no two projects are ever the same. This year’s cohort has produced an especially varied range of thoughtful, creative and highly individual work, reflecting an impressive breadth of interests, skills and subject areas. 

What is an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)?  

The Extended Project Qualification is an optional, extracurricular qualification for Sixth Former pupils. It gives students the opportunity to explore a subject of their own choosing in considerable depth.  

Students can choose between two different types of EPQ:  

• An essay-based EPQ which allows them to investigate a question or topic through detailed research and extended academic writing.  

• An artefact-based EPQ which supports students in designing and producing something original, accompanied by research, planning and evaluation. 

From developing an initial idea to planning, researching, creating and presenting their final project, students take responsibility for every stage of the process. 

Previous artefact projects have included designing and making garments, writing and recording music, producing a cookbook for students, and creating original websites for specific audiences. Students are also able to make use of the specialist facilities and resources available across Langley Senior as they bring their ideas to life.

Developing Skills for the Future  

During the EPQ, pupils develop a wide range of valuable academic and workplace skills, including independent research, critical thinking, project management, problem-solving, communication and time management. Completing an EPQ requires a significant additional commitment alongside a student’s other studies, but the enthusiasm they bring to their chosen subjects makes the programme feel particularly rewarding. 

Examples of This Year’s Projects 

This year, most pupils chose to complete artefact-based projects. 

Sustainable Dog Coats  

Evelyn M designed and created dog coats using upcycled sailing materials that would otherwise have been discarded. Her project combined practical design and manufacturing skills with an awareness of sustainability, demonstrating how unwanted materials can be transformed into useful and attractive new products. 

A Website on Antimicrobial Resistance  

Kalan V also completed an artefact EPQ, designing and building an educational website about antimicrobial resistance. His project brought together scientific research with teaching, marketing, graphic design, and website development. By presenting a complex and increasingly important topic in an accessible way, Kalan created a resource intended to inform and engage a wider audience. 

An Essay-Based Automative Industry EPQ 

Sam S chose an essay-based project focused on the automotive industry. He researched how innovations developed within motorsport, particularly Formula 1, can influence the vehicles and technologies that eventually reach the consumer market. His work explored the relationship between elite competition, engineering development, and everyday automotive design. 

Every student involved in the programme has demonstrated considerable tenacity and resilience. Their passion for their chosen subjects helped them to overcome challenges, respond to setbacks and manage the demands of completing an independent project alongside an already demanding Sixth Form schedule.  

Congratulations to all this year’s EPQ students. Their projects reflect not only their creativity and subject knowledge, but also the independence, determination, and confidence they have developed throughout the programme.