This week, a group of Upper Sixth students presented the projects they completed for their Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) to staff, students and parents in the Trinity Concert Hall.
The EPQ is an optional part of the Trinity Diploma, but an important way to equip students with the skills needed to excel at university and beyond. Students can choose a topic of their choice and create a 5,000-word dissertation or an artefact to bring an idea to life.
This year, students explored a fascinating range of topics covering the effect of gentrification on ethnic diversity, 19th century French literature, criminalising animal cruelty, the evolution of cryonics and many more.
Congratulations to all students who completed an EPQ, which can count towards university entry ‘points’ and here are a few examples of the projects completed:
Adhi, 2023’s Arkwright Engineering Scholar, had been keen to work on a robotics project, and the EPQ provided the structure and deadlines he needed to develop his idea. He wanted to create an unmanned ground vehicle that could travel across various terrains in space missions. While developing the proof of concept, Adhi kept a progress log which supported his final artefact and alongside a report, formed his total submission. He really enjoyed the process, despite the late nights, as engineering is his passion and something he is looking to study post-Trinity.
Emily is studying Geography, Maths and DT A Levels and chose to explore the question, “Will social equity change for the better or worse in medicine due to development in AI Diagnostics?” She said her original idea was fuelled by a personal interest in Alzheimer’s and AI, but she had to spend time honing the question to be more focused. The whole experience of researching and referencing was new to Emily and will prove invaluable for university. Her favourite bit, however, was presenting her project as she realised how much she knew about the topic, and how passionate she was, which really made a difference.
Grace is studying A Levels in Art, Photography and Business and decided to explore the fast fashion industry and the ethics surrounding the business. Although it took her a while to decide on a topic, she’s really enjoyed delving into a subject that brings together elements of all her A Levels, and something she wants to pursue at university. Grace created an artefact – a wearable item made of plastics, rubbish and retailer bags – to convey her question.
Maddy explored “The cognitive differences between mono and bilingual brains” for her EPQ, inspired by her Spanish-speaking family. She admitted it was a lot of work, but if it’s a topic you’re passionate about and looking to pursue at university, it is worth the effort. It also gives you a unique project to include on your UCAS personal statement and counts towards many university applications.
Aidan questioned, “To what extent have refugees and asylum seekers from contrasting backgrounds been portrayed differently by mainstream print media in the UK and France since 2015?” His project pulls together elements of his Politics, History and French A Levels, and he was keen to challenge himself to read and analyse French articles. Aidan says he enjoyed using his French, and is happy to have developed referencing and research skills he knows will be useful for university.
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