Students from Alton College have demonstrated exceptional academic ambition and professional confidence during this year’s Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) Presentation Showcase, held in the College’s Martin Read Hall.
The EPQ, which is typically either a 5,000 word dissertation or a creative artefact, is an advanced project that allows students across the country to explore their passions, deepen subject expertise and develop independent learning skills that will help them thrive at university.
Across the course of an afternoon, EPQ students delivered structured academic presentations to an audience of their peers and classmates, sharing insights from their independent research projects. Each 10-minute presentation was followed by a Q&A session with their peers, enabling the students to defend their findings whilst engaging in professional debate – mirroring the standards expected in higher education and modern workplaces.
EPQ lead and Art Lecturer Mark Taylor praised the students’ commitment to rigorous research and academic integrity, saying:
“This year’s presentations were outstanding. Students showed real confidence discussing complex issues such as Alzheimer’s treatment and alternative animal testing in the pharmaceutical industry. It is extremely encouraging to see a generation so willing to tackle the burning questions society must answer.”
These students were given the freedom to choose any subject they wanted for their EPQ, a project which also granted them the opportunity to develop their essay-writing and organisational skills. Students were also introduced to a high level of independent, analytical research akin to the expectations of a university degree, further highlighting how HSDC strives to give its students preparation for the future.
Among the students presenting were:
- Kate Bale – Has the feminist movement influenced the Disney industry?
- Emily Groves – Should herbal and holistic approaches be integrated into NHS treatment plans for Alzheimer’s Disease?
- Coraline Perret – Do gendered language and gender inequality influence each other?
- Cerys Sanders – How did attitudes towards public executions change during Early Modern England, and was change inevitable?
- Tamsin Vanoppen‑Lowe – Can alternatives to animal experimentation be used in the development and testing of new drugs?
These students, pictured celebrating after the event, are all progressing to degrees directly related to their EPQ themes, including Law, Pharmacology and Psychology.
For many learners at Alton, including these five, the EPQ marks a transformational stage in their journey. Most start the qualification with only early-stage ideas and limited experience in formal research. Through specialist teaching, structured academic support and professional presentation coaching, Alton’s students rapidly build the confidence and capability for independent research, higher-level academic writing and the ability to communicate complex ideas.
This structured pathway is central to HSDC’s commitment to youth aspiration – ensuring that every learner sees a clear and achievable route to higher-level study or employment. Students frequently report that the EPQ gives them the confidence to apply for competitive university courses, with many securing reduced entry requirements as a result of the qualification’s rigorous standards.
The success of Alton College’s EPQ students illustrates the transformative impact of a high-quality post-16 education. This year’s cohort highlighted exactly how HSDC’s curriculum links directly to future destinations, ensuring that learners are not just prepared for the next step, but that they are excited to take it.