Upper sixth students at an independent educational institution in Abingdon are marking outstanding examination achievements.
Results have been released for final-year sixth form students at St Helen and St Katharine school who sat Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) assessments.
Every grade handed out reached A* or A standard, with more than two-thirds obtaining the top mark.
Learners at the institution convened in Benedict Hall to acknowledge their accomplishments.
The EPQ carries the same weight as half an A Level, offering students the chance to investigate various subjects of personal interest that support their A Level curriculum.
This year’s research topics spanned diverse areas, examining questions such as ‘to what extent has Buddhism practise engaged with social change’ and ‘when does art stop being considered to be ‘art’?’
School officials noted that the EPQ equips students with investigative abilities highly valuable for university study.
Additionally, it gives those applying to Oxford or Cambridge substantive research material to discuss during admissions interviews.
The qualification earns UCAS tariff points and is regarded highly by selective universities, which may incorporate it into more favorable conditional offer arrangements.
Friederike Shannon, who leads the EPQ program at the school, stated: “As a year group, upper sixth have exceeded my expectations and broken our record again.
“The project titles were incredibly varied and clearly reflected each student’s individual interests and passions.
“The EPQ continues to be just as educational for our supervisor team as it is for the students – in the best possible way – as every year we’re introduced to new topics and perspectives through their work. We are very proud of what this cohort has achieved.”
Last year, the girls’ day school located on Faringdon Road placed just outside the top 50 nationally while also earning recognition as the ‘top school in Abingdon’ in The Times Parent Power 2026 guide, which evaluates educational institutions across the country according to academic outcomes.