The Results Are In! EPQ 2024

Congratulations to our Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) pupils who have achieved our best ever set of results. 95% of the pupils gained an A*/B grade, with 34% achieving an A* grade, in this qualification that is equivalent to half an A-Level.

“This is our largest cohort of EPQ pupils to date, so such a strong set of results is absolutely incredible” said Mr David Wickes, Head of The Portsmouth Grammar School. “They, along with the teaching staff that supported them, should be massively proud of their achievement.”

All pupils in Year 12 at PGS complete an extended project, either for an AQA Extended Project Qualification or the in-house PGS Extend as part of the Sixth Form Academic Enrichment curriculum; the projects and their outcomes are highly regarded by universities as they show the ability for independent learning, research, and personal application. Amongst the projects were a project assessing the ethical issues regarding (vital) dental bleaching in the UK, the creation of a multimedia blanket inspired by the landscapes in novels of the Bronte Sisters, the drawing of a fractal in order to explore the combination of a Dragon curve and Apollonian Gaskets and an investigation in to whether the risk of Alzheimer's disease be lowered using CRISPR-Cas9. These four projects give just a taste of a highly impressive range of topics from across all subject areas. 

“This cohort have achieved stronger results than last year – 66% of pupils achieved A*/A and we look forward to celebrating with them later this term at our Ithaka Celebration evening,” continued Mr Wickes. “Undertaking an EPQ gives the pupils the opportunity to research and develop projects that they are passionate about and helps them to form their thoughts on what they want to do in the world beyond PGS and where they want to be at 25. The pupils have truly produced some stunning work in their projects.” 

The Ithaka Celebration Evening is on Thursday 22nd February. 

Images: Header, Grace K’s artefact project which involved drawing a fractal in order to explore the combination of a Dragon curve and Apollonian Gaskets; Sidra N's project assessing the ethical issues regarding (vital) dental bleaching in the UK; Will G's artefact project creating an Owl box to help with the conservation of owls in his local area.