Girl Power results in best ever EPQ grades!
4th March 22
100% A*-A is an exceptional set of results, which beats all records for the EPQ at DLD College. In previous years the best students have achieved A or A* grades, but not with this level of uniformity. Gemma, Jesseca, Zerda, Benita and Nina should all be very proud of themselves – particularly for sticking with and completing their projects despite all the obstacles to conducting research and the limitations on face-to-face supervision during the pandemic. Credit is also due to Jess Ellett and Jan Winnick for their contribution to supervising the students’ projects.
All five girls researched science-related topics for their EPQs – including difficult subjects such as the pharmaceutical treatment of depression, aeronautical warfare, human psychopathy, and the impact of stress on mental health. These weighty topics were handled with great skill and care by the candidates and combined the use of quantitative and qualitative methods to support their arguments and conclusions. While assessing their work, I was extremely impressed by the range and scope of their reading, which gave their dissertations enormous depth and relevance.
The results also demonstrate the value of the project as an extension activity for more able students to develop as advanced independent learners. EPQ allows committed students to design and plan their own research project and carry this out independently with limited direct hands-on guidance from supervisors. It also allows them to experience how academic work is conducted at degree level – giving A-Level students a foretaste of undergraduate research.
Well done!
Dr Daniel Woodley, Head of Universities and Careers
