EPQ Results 2025

The first of the academic results for 2025 are out and pupils who undertook an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) are celebrating their achievements. 

This year significantly more pupils than in previous years undertook an EPQ, with 57 pupils, now in Year 13, submitting projects. Of these, 30% of entries were awarded an A*, 63% A*-A, 86% A*-B and 100% at A*-C.  

“The sheer range of the projects completed by pupils has been impressive,” said Mr David Wickes, Head of The Portsmouth Grammar School. “They, and the staff that supported them, should be proud of their achievements and the results they have been awarded.” 

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 this year were the design and reconstruction of an Ancient Egyptian board game, the building of a bipedal robot, research in to the impact of AI in healthcare, a study of fungal ecology, research in to identifying the factors who have influenced perception of Richard III in the 16th century compared to the 21st century and how far the role of social media has led to an increase in misogyny in younger men in the Western World since 2000. 

“Completing the project definitely required a large amount of commitment,” said Bhushan B, who was awarded an A* for his project on using AI for screening within ophthalmology, radiology and pathology. “I am very happy with my result and that I took the time to complete the project.” 

“I’ve applied to study Biochemistry at university and my project studying fungal ecology definitely helped me be with offers of places,” said Alice C. “Cardiff and Singapore are the only two universities in the world with dedicated studies in fungal ecology and I was able to correspond directly with a professor at Cardiff who helped guide me with some of the project.” Alice was awarded an A* for her EPQ project and has offers of places at Cardiff and Imperial College. 

To date the Year 13 pupils have received in total over 90 alternative university offers recognising the achievement of the EPQ and offering reduced entry conditions on account of their achievement in completing the qualification. Pupils have received offers from, amongst others, Bath, Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Reading, Royal Holloway, Sheffield, Southampton, Surrey, Swansea, York. 

“This is the largest cohort of pupils we have had complete an EPQ at PGS, with nearly two-thirds of them achieving A*/A,” continued Mr Wickes. “I, and other staff, thoroughly enjoyed speaking to many of them when they presented their EPQ projects last year, they all spoke passionately and knowledgeably about their work and the final projects they have produced are excellent. I look forward to celebrating their achievements with them at the Ithaka Evening at the end of February.” 

The Ithaka Celebration Evening is on Wednesday 26th February.