Anybody any experience of the Extended Project Qualification?

[Liltzero]

My year 12 DS is interested in doing the EPQ but is more interested in making / doing something rather than writing a 5000 word essay on a research topic.
Has anybody any experience of these alternative EPQ where you write 1000 words and do some kind of practical project alongside? What would be some suitable / chance of being successful topics? Many thanks.

I know someone who made a period costume - it seemed ideal, as it definitely took research and planning, so relatively easy to tick the boxes.

DC did. Chose something historical they were interested in and 'built' it. Other practical ones I know of are fashion designs (ie actually making an outfit etc), or a museum display of a subject that interests (that really could be ANY subject). Be aware that if you do an artefact then that has to be judged, so you need to build it, have it judged, and then dismantle it before the results are in. Then incorporate the feedback into your report. Also,the 1,000 words is just a guideline. DC's report was nearer 3,000 with the research and build report, but they got a very good mark (and subsequent UCAS points).

Thank you for your replies!

I used to teach and examine EPQ. I had a student who researched the life of Reverend Awdry the person who wrote Thomas the Tank Engine then he wrote a play based on the author's life and got friends to act it out. It all had to be video recorded. It got an A*.

I saw one online where the DC wanted to do medicine and for her EPQ she crocheted a life size model of the human digestive system. It was designed to help children who had to have surgery understand it all.

I think there are quite a few textiles ones - saw another one involving research into Irish folk patterns and then made a sampler and turned it into a cushion.

Also recipe books seem quite popular.

I know someone who choreographed a dance based on an historical event

I know of one student who dod a series of paintings based on the Harry Potter books. They were stunning.

Oh wow, I love this! So creative.

Any know any examples of product design / engineering type projects?

Son's friend bought and refurbished a motorbike and kept a log of every item they removed, replaced and refitted and wrote up his 1000 words about what he had done.

Another student I know wrote a child's recipe book. Cooked and photographed each recipe for it. It was for primary aged kids and she is now a NQ y1 teacher.

OP, if you google EPQ Artefact you can find lots of examples. The students can literally do anything (make something/art/bake/perform) rather than the full blown dissertation.
In our school the students do get an extra hour a fortnight with the EPQ lead to make sure they stay on track.

Schools tend to over sell and underdeliver - before committing, I would ask what proportion of students who start the program actually submit, and what proportion of those get A/A*.