Beyond the grades: Sixth Form shines in the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

The EPQ isn't your typical exam. Instead of sitting a test, students spend months choosing their own topic, researching it independently and producing a substantial piece of work: a dissertation, an artefact, or a performance.

They work under the guidance of a supervising teacher rather than a set syllabus, logging and reflecting on their progress throughout, before presenting their findings. The final piece is marked in-house, then externally moderated by an exam board to national standard.

Academic excellence takes many forms. Alongside strong grades, the EPQ is designed to build independence, research skills and the ability to manage a long-term project from start to finish. These are qualities that extend well beyond the classroom, and ones we're proud to see our students carry with them.

This year's results reflect that ambition: a 100% pass rate across our cohort, with 75% of students earning A^* or A grades. Our students sit the same UK-regulated EPQ, assessed against the same exam board grade boundaries as schools across the UK, so it's a fair comparison. And it's a flattering one. Just 50.1% of EPQ entries achieved an A^*/A grade across the UK in summer 2026, according to the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ). That puts our sixth form well ahead of the national benchmark.

The EPQ carries real weight beyond the school gates too. Worth up to 28 UCAS points, equivalent to half an A-level, it's increasingly recognised by universities, with some competitive courses referencing it directly in their offers. Admissions tutors often point to EPQ students as arriving better prepared for the demands of independent study at degree level.

For our sixth form community, these results are more than a strong set of statistics. They're evidence of young people who can identify a question worth asking, follow it through on their own terms and see it through to completion. That kind of self-direction is exactly what universities, and increasingly employers, are looking for. It's the spirit we hope to nurture in every student who walks through our doors. These are teachable skills that AI can’t match.