Extended Projects Presentation
Posted on Tuesday 2 December 2008
Senior Qualifications Adviser presents bound projects to 150 students who undertook the Extended Pro
Pioneering students lead way in qualifications reform
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A senior government qualifications expert, told students and staff at Farnborough Sixth Form College last week that their work had had a profound impact upon government thinking. Mr David MacKay of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, was speaking at an awards ceremony for the College’s third cohort of Extended Project students.
Presenting the students with their beautifully bound university-style theses, Mr MacKay said, “Farnborough Sixth Form has taken a pioneering lead in helping us to understand how we should guide the national development of the Extended Project. The success of Farnborough has raised the profile of this important initiative nationally and I hope you will show these projects with pride to friends and family”.
The 148 students who received certificates from Mr MacKay had each completed 5000 word dissertations on a topic of their choice linking two of their A level subjects. They undertook the research during the summer holidays and were required to complete their projects by the end of October. Jon Marks, Associate Assistant Principal who led the project, said, “The breadth and depth of the students’ research was astonishing – I am very proud of all that they have achieved”.
Stuart Rowland, 18, of Camberley who is Vice President of the Students’ Association and hopes to read physics at university next year, wrote aproject entitled, “A brief history of modern physics and the mathematical laws which shape our universe”. He told the packed audience of parents and students in the Prospect Theatre that not only had he positively enjoyed doing the research but that the project had given him a real understanding of time management and prioritisation. “This will be a really useful skill for both my university career and my employment in the future”, said Stuart.
Sarah Brown, 18, of Wokingham, undertook her research on the development of the autistic child through mathematics, music and diet. She told the audience very movingly how the research had impacted upon her own understanding of autism and how it had taken her in directions which she had not expected.
Principal Dr John Guy congratulated students and their teachers on the work that had been produced which, he said, would not have been out of place amongst final year undergraduate theses. “This is the essence of learning at this College – we want to introduce you to the ideas of asking your own challenging questions and then to stretch you so that you can answer them”.
