EPQ in Photography

A programme for A-Level pupils to attain an Extended Project Qualification in photography at the Gallery.

***Applications for the 2024/2025 school year are now closed***

The EPQ in Photography is open, by application, to pupils studying at state schools in Westminster, Ealing, Kensington & Chelsea, Harrow, Camden, Hammersmith & Fulham, Barnet and Brent. All programme fees, as well as travel, gallery visits, materials and equipment costs, are covered by the programme.

All 50 hours of taught sessions are delivered through the programme and led by a qualified secondary school teacher, with support from a teaching assistant and programme mentors. Pupils enjoy an exciting introduction to a range of photography histories, theories and techniques within the safe and inspiring studio space at The Photographers’ Gallery, with stimulating photography exhibitions on adjacent floors.

There is an expectation that those schools already offering an EPQ (not in Photography) will support and monitor participating pupils’ 70 independent learning hours at school.

Applications closed on 23 September 2024 for the 2024/2025 programme. The application portal for 2025/2026 will open Summer 2025.

All pupils are required to attend the programme dates. As an example, for 2024/2025 the programme dates are:

28 September - Online introduction session

12-13 October - First weekend session at TPG

30 October to 1 November 2024 - October half term talks, workshops and planning

6 December 2024 - weekend catch up session (tbc)

19 – 21 February 2025 - February half term talks, workshops and mentoring

15 & 16 March 2025 - weekend catch up session (tbc)

Saturday 5 April 2025 - exhibition preparation day

Sunday 6 April 2025 - exhibition day

*These sessions will run in person at The Photographers’ Gallery.

There is more information and dates for the programme on the application form (coming to this web page soon!). If you are a pupil, teacher or parent/guardian with any questions, feel free to email us at epq@tpg.org.uk

An Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is a stand-alone qualification enabling pupils studying in Years 12 and 13 to independently undertake an in-depth investigation on a specific subject of their choice. The outcome of this work can be a 5,000-word report or dissertation, or an artwork/artefact with a shorter piece of writing.

An EPQ is highly valued qualification for employment and/or progression to higher education, worth half the UCAS points of an A-Level.

Launched in July 2021, The Photographers' Gallery’s EPQ in Photography is a free programme that supports a group of pupils to attain an EPQ. The programme offers a structured grounding in photography history, theory and techniques through taught lessons, exhibition visits and one-to-one mentoring. Pupils are supported to select a topic and independently develop practical or essay-based work for presentation and assessment.

The programme includes 50 hours of taught sessions. Pupils are required to undertake a further 70 hours of independent research and work within their own time. Taught sessions take place from Monday through Friday, in half day sessions, outside of the school term with occasional weekend sessions. Once pupils have attended their taught sessions and produced their final, independent writing /artwork, they present their work for assessment in order to gain their qualification. The results of their qualification is announced alongside A-Level results, in August.

A short film with more information about the EPQ in Photography at The Photographers' Gallery

It teaches you to be independent and how to use a camera.

EPQ student

This programme is supported by John Lyon's Charity.