The EPQ involves writing a 5000-word essay and/or creating an artefact (i.e. a material or digital product), which provides very clear evidence of super-curricular development, i.e. high levels of personal interest and competency in a specialist subject area beyond the A-level curriculum. It demonstrates skills and abilities in personal intellectual development, academic research and academic writing that are the mainstay of success in an undergraduate degree. Ashbourne provides EPQ students with specialist academic supervision and guidance to help them complete projects to a very high standard. EPQ topics Students must come up with their project idea which they discuss with their supervisor. There are no restrictions on what they may choose as their topic, but it is highly recommended that it is related to their proposed degree course – it is such an important facilitator of success in UCAS applications that most students elect to make that choice. Ideally, the topic should build on existing academic knowledge and go beyond the A-level syllabus – an example would be studying Italian Fascism in A-level History and then doing an EPQ on Mussolini’s military strategy in Africa in World War Two. Often topic choices with a strong personal or cultural dimension make for very successful EPQs as the research then becomes a journey of self-discovery as much as an academic and intellectual project. Once the topic is agreed the student will draw up a full proposal including the project aims, initial plans, structure and format. Production, Product and Presentation The EPQ comprises three parts: Production Log This is a reflective research journal, which should demonstrate the candidate’s ability to record and reflect on the process of production and assess the level of success achieved by the project. Product EPQs can take a wide variety of forms including academic essays (5000 words), design and engineering projects, models or constructions, musical or theatrical performances, scientific investigations, multimedia productions, artworks and creative writing projects. Presentation Students present their final project to an audience of specialists and non-specialists using appropriate media. There is a live question and answer session during the presentation, overseen by the supervisor. All projects must include a written report or essay of 1000 to 5000 words long depending on the exact nature of the project, which will be internally assessed and externally moderated. EPQ guidance and skills development EPQs are demanding and require a high level of self-motivation, a real curiosity in the subject matter and hard work. Students will have the opportunity to discuss their ideas with staff who specialise or have experience in their specific subject area and will be invited to take part in small seminars and tuition groups to learn and develop skills vital for completing their EPQ, which include: • critical evaluation skills • online resource knowledge • research methods • research writing skills • presentation skills • planning skills Ashbourne’s A-level students consistently achieve outstanding results, 54% A*A (2022-2023), and students’ performance improvement is excellent, placing the college in the top 5% of UK schools and colleges for value-added. Currently, almost 60% of our graduates go on to study at Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.
Students who continue to Year 12 at Ashbourne are expected to be able to gain a minimum of 6 grades 6s (or equivalent) for their GCSE results and must have a determination to work towards their academic potential.
About Education Provider
| Region | London |
| Local Authority | Kensington and Chelsea |
| Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| Gender Type | Co-Educational |
| ISI Report | View Report |
| Boarding Fee | Unknown |
| Sixth Form Fee | £32,250 - £34,500 |
| Address | 17 Old Court Place, Kensington, London, W8 4PL |
The EPQ involves writing a 5000-word essay and/or creating an artefact (i.e. a material or digital product), which provides very clear evidence of super-curricular development, i.e. high levels of personal interest and competency in a specialist subject area beyond the A-level curriculum. It demonstrates skills and abilities in personal intellectual development, academic research and academic writing that are the mainstay of success in an undergraduate degree. Ashbourne provides EPQ students with specialist academic supervision and guidance to help them complete projects to a very high standard. EPQ topics Students must come up with their project idea which they discuss with their supervisor. There are no restrictions on what they may choose as their topic, but it is highly recommended that it is related to their proposed degree course – it is such an important facilitator of success in UCAS applications that most students elect to make that choice. Ideally, the topic should build on existing academic knowledge and go beyond the A-level syllabus – an example would be studying Italian Fascism in A-level History and then doing an EPQ on Mussolini’s military strategy in Africa in World War Two. Often topic choices with a strong personal or cultural dimension make for very successful EPQs as the research then becomes a journey of self-discovery as much as an academic and intellectual project. Once the topic is agreed the student will draw up a full proposal including the project aims, initial plans, structure and format. Production, Product and Presentation The EPQ comprises three parts: Production Log This is a reflective research journal, which should demonstrate the candidate’s ability to record and reflect on the process of production and assess the level of success achieved by the project. Product EPQs can take a wide variety of forms including academic essays (5000 words), design and engineering projects, models or constructions, musical or theatrical performances, scientific investigations, multimedia productions, artworks and creative writing projects. Presentation Students present their final project to an audience of specialists and non-specialists using appropriate media. There is a live question and answer session during the presentation, overseen by the supervisor. All projects must include a written report or essay of 1000 to 5000 words long depending on the exact nature of the project, which will be internally assessed and externally moderated. EPQ guidance and skills development EPQs are demanding and require a high level of self-motivation, a real curiosity in the subject matter and hard work. Students will have the opportunity to discuss their ideas with staff who specialise or have experience in their specific subject area and will be invited to take part in small seminars and tuition groups to learn and develop skills vital for completing their EPQ, which include: • critical evaluation skills • online resource knowledge • research methods • research writing skills • presentation skills • planning skills Ashbourne’s A-level students consistently achieve outstanding results, 54% A*A (2022-2023), and students’ performance improvement is excellent, placing the college in the top 5% of UK schools and colleges for value-added. Currently, almost 60% of our graduates go on to study at Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.
Students who continue to Year 12 at Ashbourne are expected to be able to gain a minimum of 6 grades 6s (or equivalent) for their GCSE results and must have a determination to work towards their academic potential.