The EPQ allows each student to embark on a largely self-directed and self-motivated project. It is an opportunity to look deeply at a topic the student is passionate about and explore it fully in a range of different ways. Students must choose a topic, plan, research and develop their idea and decide on their finished product. The course encourages creativity and curiosity. A project topic may be directly related to a student’s main study programme, but should look beyond the specification. A finished product may take the form of: a research based written report; production (charity event, fashion show or sports event, for example); an artefact (piece of art, a computer game or realised design). A written report must accompany these options. Previous student projects have included • Will antibiotics become useless? • The history of drumming in rock music • The impact of the portrayal of women in the media • Drugs and the Tour de France. Students must also record their project process in their Production Log. The process of recording and completing a project is as important as the finished product. Both the Production Log and Product will be assessed.