We were delighted with the Extended Project Qualification results this year, which saw 80% A*/A grades awarded. Year 13 students had started their independent research projects in the November of year 12 and worked hard to define well-focused questions to pursue. This independent research project – equivalent to an AS level – requires students to design, plan, manage, report, present and evaluate a piece of original research. Many of the students will benefit from reduced offers from the universities they have applied to in recognition of their achievement.
Students are able to select any topic that is worthy of level 3 study and, as ever, there was an interesting and diverse range of topics – although perhaps unsurprising that a number chose to look at the potential impacts of AI. Esme McLaughlin explored how it might contribute to the production of successful art and James Sainsbury looked at the potential for AI to make the wind energy industry more profitable in the UK. Ben McGrath also explored the energy industry by researching whether the UK’s strategy for energy security using nuclear power will help Britain to achieve greater energy independence. Michael Bernard explored the impact of the 2015 migrant crisis on German politics while Izzy Mabbett unpicked the impact of the gender data gap on ACL injury prevalence in women.
Some students pursued topics that spoke to their future career interests with Bethan Williams taking a medical slant by investigating the reasons for global increase in allergies and the treatment options becoming available to sufferers while Hannah Mountjoy explored the legal and ethical problems of lethal injection. Others, such as Harvey Martlew, pursued projects because they presented a particular personal interest: Harvey challenged himself to create a fitness app prototype for teenagers while Hannah Beattie examined the physical and mental impacts of professional dance. Sofia George’s focus on assisted dying was remarkably prescient with the bill going to Parliament just as Sofia completed her report.
We pass on our congratulations to all the students whose hard work merited such fabulous results.
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