St Alban's Catholic High School

The EPQ is a component offered to all our students in January of their first year of study at St Alban’s. Students can choose an area of their own research that comes from their personal interest, a leisure activity, a subject specific project, a career based project or community based project. The EPQ allows students to develop into independent learners, applying research, problem solving and analytical skills to something that they are passionate about. The Extended Project qualification is highly regarded by top universities as it helps students ‘develop independent study and research skills and ease the transition to higher education’ Cambridge University.

At St Alban’s every sixth form student gets the unique opportunity to engage in a timetabled lesson on society and faith. Students have the opportunity to discuss and debate issues that involve spirituality, morality, theology, philosophy, current affairs and other important topics. Students also develop their evaluative, reasoning and debating skills in a respectful and safe environment. This allows our students to develop as a person morally and spiritually, as well as academically assisting them with the skills needed to achieve at A Level. We encourage all students whatever their beliefs to engage in meaningful and respectful debate. Society and faith allows students to understand and question ideas and beliefs as well as developing their views and opinions on important topics.

All students who are not studying A Level Mathematics have the opportunity to undertake this one year qualification to develop the key mathematical skills which are needed in a number of higher level courses. Students will come out with a Level 3 qualification – with equivalent UCAS points to an AS Level. Mathematical Studies builds on GCSE Mathematics with a sharper focus on problem solving skills by considering and tackling mathematics in meaningful contexts. This includes financial applications of mathematics as well as further statistical ideas that can support work in other subjects they will be studying such as psychology, geography, sociology and economics.