EPQ STUDENTS GAIN VALUABLE RESEARCH SKILLS

As part of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), a group of 22 Year 12 students recently visited the Bill Bryson Library at Durham University. 

The students engaged very well in a seminar style session with a member of the university’s Academic Skills team in one of the university lecture theatres. The talk focused on research, how to form a good title, analysis, referencing and bibliographies, tailored specifically to the EPQ. 

They then had a tour and were given guidance about how to use the university library catalogue. The students were shown how to locate resources and use the impressive library, which is spread over a number of floors. 

The students were confident, independent and proactive and not daunted by the expansive library. They sourced content that would help with their individual EPQ titles, and made notes from key resources to enable them to continue working at home. 

The students enjoyed the visit and gained many new skills. Some are now planning to return to the library to continue their research over the summer, using the library cards that they were given by the university.

The students were an absolute credit to the Sixth Form: they blended in well and could have easily passed for undergraduates!

Thank you to Miss Bainbridge and Ms Richardson for running the trip.