Twenty-three Alleyn’s students completed an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) this year - a qualification designed to help students become more critical, reflective and independent learners, preparing them for university or their future career.
With its focus on research and self-guided learning, the EPQ is worth half an A level and is becoming increasingly popular with Alleyn’s students who enjoy the chance to plan and carry out research on a topic that isn't covered by their other qualifications. They can take inspiration from something touched on in lessons or something personal and unrelated to their studies.
Research is carried out over a year and culminates in a 5,000-word essay together with a presentation, demonstrating creativity, initiative and enterprise.
Sarra in Year 13 researched her chosen title: “What is better, a merit-based bureaucracy or a preordained structured society? Discussion of Mohist and Confucian battles of ideology”. She shares with us why the EPQ was such a big hit for her.
All the A level subjects I am taking are essay based and we always work to fixed titles. I wanted to do the EPQ to be able to study something I have a genuine interest in, which isn’t part of the curriculum. The skills I’ve developed from carrying out in-depth research to source checking and working independently are definitely going to help me at university where I hope to study Politics and International Relations.
I have always been interested in Philosophy and the Eastern philosopher's impact on societies. My project discussed the two philosophers Mozi and Confucius and explored what kind of society would be a better system to make people more prosperous and happier. I wanted to examine some philosophies which are renowned but also still relevant and impacting society today. I also didn’t know that much detail about Mozi and Confucius and it interested me to research something I didn’t know much about.
I began the project in September last year by picking a title, which your supervisor helps with to make sure it is analytical enough for a discussion. And then I planned and began to carry out my research, putting together a log each week to keep me on track.
I evaluated the individual key teachings of the philosophers (the Ten Doctrines for Mozi and the Five Constant Virtues for Confucius) and I then debated between the direct similarities and differences in their teachings to enable me to discover who had a more convincing and positive approach.
After reading sources online and then their directly translated texts I concluded that Mohism was a better philosophy because of the idea that one can progress in society following their intellectual poise and wealth of compassion, opposed to Confucius' more rigid notion that your position was inherited at birth. As a modern reader and someone who recognises the importance of the moral values of respect and the gift of equal opportunity, I was convinced by Mozi (merit-based bureaucracy).
This project has helped me understand the importance of having a great range of different sources in order to have the true answer. Before this project, I expected the renowned Confucius to have the most convincing and wise teachings but following my depth of research I realised this was not at all the case. Mozi is a hidden philosopher who I am glad I discovered during this project and has made me realise that researching far below the surface there are some truly inspiring and wonderful teachings, characters and places that are only found when thoroughly researched.
This also contributed to my favourite part of the project of finding the books written by the philosophers and reading them directly translated and truly understanding their ideologies.
I have improved my writing abilities drastically through writing this essay as despite doing all essay subjects and having done lots of coursework before, handling such a long essay with the referencing is very different.
Referencing was a really important part of the essay, and I am glad to have successfully learnt this invaluable skill which will help me especially during university but in all of my future. I learnt the hard way, writing 1,000 words of my essay without including references. They are so important to include and get right, to test reliability and record sources to avoid plagiarism. I also learnt to use a source reliability table to make sure that all sources were reputable. If it hadn’t been for the EPQ I would never have learnt these skills and they will be so useful for everything I do at university.
Read more about the topics that Alleyn's students presented at this year's EPQs in a news story here.
Junior School Open Day
The next Alleyn's Junior School Open Event is from 1.30pm to 3pm on Wednesday 22 May 2024. There will be a Head's Talk at 1.40pm after which you will be offered a tour of the school with a pupil. There is no need to book a place at this Open Event - everyone is welcome.
Last updated on 20 05 24 at 09:12
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