EXTENDED PROJECT
Off to a flying start
Turton High School Media
It is interesting being on the journey with them
and learning as they learn. I have found the best
Arts College has been
way to support students is to guide them through the
project, while making it clear that they have ultimate
responsibility for their own work.
offering the Extended
establishing the concept of research and different
research techniques at the outset of the project was
Project for the past year.
useful, to help them see past Google and Wikipedia.
to interest our students in wider reading, we used a
Deputy head, Charlie
software program called turnitin which helps them
explore what is suitable in research terms, as well as
raising awareness of plagiarism.
Taylor, reflects on
the most satisfying element of the extended Project
has been seeing how much the students are enjoying
how the qualification
and thriving on it. I have seen some young people really
come into their own as a result of studying something
has been delivered, and
they are passionate about, and as a teacher you get a
rare glimpse into what really makes them tick.
received, so far
Students are also very aware that the qualifications will
give them a flying start in higher education, which many
are thinking of for the future. I feel whatever each student
goes onto next, be it higher education or employment,
n the 30 years I have been teaching, I have the project will complement their skills and increase their
I
seen a number of new qualifications and ability to work independently and to a high standard.
initiatives for young people. the extended Project seems to be a hit with students
the extended Project strikes me as and teachers here, and we are looking forward to the
unique because it allows students to work as qualification continuing in the future. SecEd
independent learners, giving them the freedom
to pursue an area of special interest in a way • Charlie Taylor is the deputy head of 14 to 19 education
that no other qualification at this level has done. and teaches A level English literature at Turton High
It is worth half an A level and there are 30 guided School Media Arts College in Bolton, Lancashire. The
learning hours, in which the teacher takes a supervisory college has been offering the Extended Project for the
role – a strikingly different approach for teachers as past year.
well as pupils.
the extended Project allows each student to research
Further information
and develop a project of their choice. this could be an For information and guidance on the extended
aspect of a subject they are studying, or another subject, Project, search at www.qcda.gov.uk. the site provides
or simply a topic that they have a personal interest in. information and guidance on the extended Project.
It offers a real opportunity for students to take the 14-19 Reforms and You toolkit – a practical
learning into their own hands and it is proving to be resource to help leaders and managers in schools and
liberating and very motivating for them. colleges disseminate key information – can be ordered
Being given the choice to develop their knowledge from www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19
and experience in the direction they wish to take gives
students confidence in their own abilities, and encourages from universities we have worked with have voiced
them to stretch themselves in new directions. strong support for the qualification. We collaborate with
Our school has been offering the extended Project to Bolton University and the University of Manchester,
our 6th form students over the past year. It is a popular which allow our students access to the research facilities
choice with our students – we will have approximately at their institutions. Some students recently presented
40 for the november entry and had about 70 new their projects back to representatives from Bolton and
students beginning the qualification this September. Manchester and the feedback was very positive, with the
the extended Project can be offered as a stand-alone universities impressed at the high standard of work.
qualification, but also forms a compulsory part of the the extended Project also helps develop other key
Advanced Diploma at Level 3, which we expect to skills, such as critical thinking and investigation, both of
introduce into the college over the next couple of years. which are highly valued by universities and employers.
there are three main elements to the extended Students here usually choose the qualification to
Project. the first of these is the actual product or complement the subjects they are already studying, but
it can also be an opportunity to explore a personal area
of interest. As a teacher, it is inspiring to see the talents
‘
Being given the
of students coming out through their projects, rather
than steering them through a fixed syllabus.
free inset courses
One of my students looked at the fashion and style
choice to develop
of Club 54 in new York. As part of her project, she Find out how to offer this stimulating new qualification as
designed three garments based on her research. She
their knowledge and
modified the garments to fit into contemporary styles
part of the Diploma, Welsh Baccalaureate or standalone
so they could be used as part of a fashion show in her
experience in the
final presentation. this student demonstrated excellent
research skills and in addition to the fashion show she
direction they wish to
created visual boards, video clips from the club in its
heyday, and full designs of the garments.
Another student made an animated story called
take gives students
Winter Ted. this was a Wallace and Gromit-style
animation which she already had an interest in outside
confidence in their own
the A level subjects she studied.
She planned the whole process of animation
abilities, and encourages
from start to finish, writing the script, organising the
filming, editing the footage, assembling the music, and
previewing the final film.
them to stretch
Another student teaches swimming in her spare time,
and her extended Project explored ways to improve her
themselves in new
group of young swimmers by examining the techniques
she was using in her lessons. this was interesting as
directions
she had a focus group to work with and the project
was actually designed to assist her classes, improve her
teaching, and ultimately benefit the swimmers.
these students’ projects would not have been feasible
artifact, which could range from a wr
’
itten study to an within the constraints of traditional qualifications. this
artistic sculpture. the second element is a presentation is the beauty of the extended Project.
by the student of their work, and the third is the log there are always challenges on each project, and a
book in which each student records the process they go commonality I have noticed is that students are often
through as the project develops. unsure where to start with their study. they are used
Sixty per cent of the final grade looks at the process to being given work to complete, rather than taking
behind each student’s project, and how he or she records responsibility and setting their own tasks.
the planning through to the delivery. the remaining this is what makes the extended Project different
40 per cent of the grade looks at the final product, – and hugely important – but nevertheless it is often a
which, due to the flexibility of the qualification, can be real challenge for the students at the beginning.
just about anything! It has been challenging for teachers as well as
For further information visit www.wjec.co.uk or contact
the independent thinking and research skills required students. I have found it quite hard to keep my distance
Tessa Gabriel-Davies 029 2026 5191 tessa.gabriel-davies@wjec.co.uk
by the extended Project are excellent preparation for from the projects – like my students, I am used to
higher education and employment, and representatives having more control over their work.
SecEd • November 5 2009 15
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16