St Thomas the Apostle College A Level Course Guide

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) AS Introduction The EPQ is a qualification unlike any other. In essence, this is a unique opportunity to spend months working on something you are passionate about. It could be anything from making a surfboard, or making a song, to writing about your favourite topic. It’s a stand-alone qualification as an AS Level. The EPQ is highly valued by many universities. For example, Cambridge say “We welcome the introduction of the EPQ and would encourage you to undertake one as it will help you develop independent study and research skills and ease the transition from school/college to higher education.” Skills you will gain

• Expert knowledge in an area of your choice that you can apply to everyday situations for the rest of your life

• A greater understanding of research skills • Great analytical and evaluative skills • Essay writing and scientific report writing skills • Time management • Independent learning skills • The ability to understand many explanations of the same thing

and come to your own conclusions - Organisational skills - Problem solving skills.

Course Outline The emphasis of the course is to develop an independent learner. In which instance, 40% of the course is teacher led – whereby, we look at project management skills, research and presentation techniques, and methods of evaluation and analysis. The other 60% of the time is spent focusing on the project/product you are creating. Here the teacher merely supervises/guides/mentors/record keeps.

Assessment The course is 100% project based, with months spent researching, writing and evaluating your chosen area of focus. You have the choice of either making a product (and then a 1500 - 2500 write up) or an in-depth dissertation of 5000 words. Whilst you can pretty much focus on any area you want, the final project/product isn’t as important as the research and evaluation you carry out during the course. The subject is heavily evaluative based and so eligible candidates for the course must have an aptitude for the humanities as well as strong Maths ability. Candidates will also need to apply a critical and evaluative approach to their studies. Career Progression An EPQ qualification not only impresses universities but also looks good to employers as it demonstrates your ability to work independently and that you are competent with time management. An EPQ qualification can lead to practically any job you want, but especially relevant would be research jobs, management roles, human resources, public relations, media, education, and more. Complementary Subjects The skills gained and used throughout the course will combine well with all other A Level courses. Entry Requirements

• A minimum GCSE grade 5 in English & Maths • Grade C in GCSE Science