AQA Subject Advocate Christine Andrews leads a session unpacking the unique opportunities and challenges of supporting pupils on producing artefacts as part of their Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Different from an essay-based entry, artefacts enable pupils to produce a creative outcome through a body of independent research.
Teachers and educators will gain practical insights into:
- What makes a strong artefact project and how it differs from the traditional 5,000-word report.
- Key assessment objectives, including research, planning, testing, and evaluation.
- The role of supervisors in challenging and supporting pupils, from proposal to final submission.
- Common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
- Examples of artefact projects, spanning creative writing, events, performance, visual art, apps, and more.
Why Attend?
Artefact projects offer a powerful way for students to combine academic skills with creativity and innovation. This session will help teachers confidently support pupils in balancing practical production with critical research, safeguarding considerations, and ethical approaches to primary research.
Who is it for?
This event is designed for teachers and supervisors supporting EPQ pupils, particularly those working in photography, art, design, and the broader creative curriculum. Teachers or support staff from schools interested in starting an EPQ are also welcome.
Christine biography
Christine spent many years teaching Mathematics and the Philosophy of Religion in Secondary and Tertiary education in both the state and private sectors. She joined the AQA team in 2002, marking and moderating assessment material for A level Mathematics. For several years she was the AQA Chair of A levels in Mathematics, Use of Mathematics and Further Mathematics. She took up the post of Principal Moderator for AQA’s Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) in 2009. She is a passionate about the wide-ranging benefits of the EPQ to students, as illustrated in the AQA-authorised textbook she authored for Hodder and the many teacher-training courses she has enthusiastically delivered over the last sixteen years. Earlier this year Christine changed her role within AQA and no longer leads the EPQ moderation panel; she is now the Subject Advocate for Project Qualifications (at all three levels).