Extended Project presentation
Posted on Friday 16 December 2011
Chief Executive of UCAS impressed by essays
Mary Curnock Cook OBE (Chief Executive of UCAS) recently presented students at the Sixth Form College, Farnborough, with copies of their professionally bound Extended Projects. The 5000 word essays are the culmination of five months of independent research carried out by students who volunteered to take on this work in addition to their A level studies.
This was Mrs Curnock Cook’s second visit to the College and she told the audience of over 300 students and parents how delighted she was to return to such an impressive institution. She was astonished at the remarkable range of questions students had chosen to research (‘If it looks right will it always fly right?’, ‘How effective would a fat tax be at reducing obesity?’, ‘Is laser fusion a viable energy source for the future?’, ‘Can money buy you happiness?’), and was so inspired that she wanted to take copies away with her to read!
Mrs Curnock Cook said that universities highly value the Extended Project as it demonstrates the ability of students to go beyond the confines of the A level syllabus and make connections between the subjects they are studying.
Since 2006 nearly 1000 students have produced an original and scholarly essay, all of which are available in the College Library. Many are of the standard one would expect to see from students in their first year at university. Simon Reigh (Extended Project Director at Farnborough) said: “The projects provide a fascinating record of the kind of world we find ourselves in today, and the things that are exercising the intellectual curiosity of students at the College. This year students were reflecting on a wide range of contemporary issues – the summer riots, climate change, the global economic crisis, the energy crisis, and much more.”
Simon Jarvis (Principal) congratulated the students on their achievement and commitment, remarking “You should be proud of your achievements, as I am.”
