Although the EPQ Presentations were delayed this year, they were a real highlight of the summer term.

Year 12 girls presented on the topics they had chosen themselves, and which they spent a whole year developing. Topics ranged from the creation of a successful jewellery business to a searing analysis of ways in which the UK prison system fails pregnant women.

In terms of the 7 Cs, Friday was all about communication. If the girls were nervous, it was near-impossible to tell. All spoke with confidence, expertise and thoughtfulness on their process and their findings.

The other core values of our curriculum were also in evidence: creativity in choice of topics, intellectual curiosity promoting higher-level research, projects completed with real craftsmanship, and commitment in the face of adversity. A special mention should go to the valuable collaboration between girls and their supervisors. The FHS teachers mentor girls on a volunteer basis, and the girls did them credit, showing how transformative the EPQ can be to a student’s confidence and ability.