St Edward's Chronicle April 2018

22 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Oxbridge and EPQ

Last term started with a flourish on the academic front: three pupils received offers for Oxford University; and outstanding results were announced in the Extended Project Qualification. Armela Lasku received an offer to study Law at Corpus Christi College; James Curtis, to study Geography at Keble College; and Jamie Chen, to study Law and German Law at Somerville College. Congratulations to them and best of luck to all Sixth Form pupils in the all- important next few weeks as they work towards meeting the offers required by the universities of their choice. In the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), over 80% of candidates achieved grades A*-B, and an impressive 24%, A*. The EPQ is highly regarded by universities who see it as evidence of a pupil’s genuine engagement with their academic work

and a clear indication that they are self- motivated and capable of tackling a subject with real intellectual rigour. St Edward’s is unusual in that most A Level candidates take the EPQ, making these stellar results across the board particularly impressive. As ever, the topics covered in the EPQ were many and varied. Nickolos Hunt considered: To what extent can the Russian annexation of the Crimea in 2014 be justified? ; Max Thompson, To what extent does success in elite rowing depend upon a genetic predisposition? ; Georgia Heath, Changes in how women are portrayed ; Benjamin Wan, How should we tackle the problem of the increasing incidence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria? ; and Emily Smart created a set design for a surrealist theatre production. All those listed, plus Joe Courtier, James Curtis, Huda Khalaf and Jamie Chen, achieved A*.

Merritt Moore By Lola Willcock Merritt Moore, a quantum physicist at Oxford and a professional ballerina, came to talk to pupils in January. Being given the opportunity to hear Merritt speak was truly inspirational. I found it particularly resonant in the lead up to exams as she was proof that it is possible to do so much more than we think we are capable of and that it is in fact better to have more than one passion. I learnt that putting everything in terms of extra-curricular on hold for exams is not always beneficial, and it can in fact help to maintain stimulation. Fundamentally, Merritt not only taught us how to achieve what we want, but also what to do to keep going in times when we don’t feel like we are achieving anything, which is the most important time to persevere.

Chess Club

Sam Potter, Emily Smart, Bash Croft and Matthew Wilkins at a read-through.

Somewhere up North

Sixth Form Director, Emily Smart, writes: This year’s Edinburgh Fringe production, Someone, Somewhere , is an original piece written by acclaimed playwright Sam Potter in collaboration with the Teddies Drama Department, the Theatre Society and The

North Wall Arts Centre. It’s a very exciting project and the cast and crew are all looking forward to being back in Edinburgh. Look out for us this summer at the Space@Niddry Street in August where we will be performing as North of the Wall.

Shell Andrew Watson enjoys the Monday afternoon Chess Club, open to all pupils.