Three students at Bloxham have successfully completed their Higher Project Qualification (HPQ), equivalent to a GCSE, after a year of research and exploration. This significant accomplishment not only demonstrates their individual talents but also shows their commitment to fostering wider independent learning beyond the compulsory curriculum.
Each student’s project began with selecting a topic of personal interest. This was a crucial part of their HPQ journey as they were required to choose a subject that truly resonated with their passions and curiosities. From this, the students were expected to produce a production log, a written report, supplementary evidence and conclude with a presentation. Drawing upon their accumulated knowledge and insights from their research phase, the next part of the project required them to bring their research to life and produce their final piece which they would then present showcasing their creative abilities.
The student’s projects ranged from fashion, vintage cars and a blacksmith hammer. One of the students, Amelie C., decided to do a fashion-based project, designing a range of tops, inspired by current popular brands. She then carried out a survey amongst her peers to find the one they liked best, and then researched and purchased the material she needed to make her made her final piece. Amelie C. shared her thoughts on completing the HPQ as well as more about what her project entailed:
I started with the idea of making something to do with fashion. I love fashion and would really like to go to fashion college for Sixth Form. My project idea was to make a top that was comfortable to wear and that people in my year group would like to wear as well. I created the top from jersey cotton which I didn’t realise would be such a hard material to use. I used a small regular stitch instead of a cross stitch. Unfortunately, I managed to sew one of the arms together and rip the material instead of taking out the stitches. After making the top, I then had to write a 500-word essay and make a PowerPoint about what I did, which I then presented to two members of staff. It was an enjoyable experience to be able to do this.”
The next student, Charlotte G., based her project on a longstanding interest in vintage cars and vintage motorsport. Her idea was to do an art project using part of a vintage car. After much thought, she came up with the idea of making a display cabinet from the radiator casing of a 1920s Alvis 12/50 that she found in her grandfather’s garage. To do this, she made and attached some wooden shelving to the rear of the radiator casing. Continuing with the 1920s motorsport theme, she decided to create a display in the cabinet focusing on the life of the pioneering female racer Violette Cordery, who had great success in the sport during this era.
The final student, Alexander B., was interested in blacksmithing and has already made a number of items. For his project he decided to make a blacksmithing hammer for his own future use. He investigated hammer designs and metal types, before forging the hammer head under expert supervision at a forge. He then finished off the hammer by shaping and attaching a handle made of hickory.
Congratulations to all three HPQ students on their projects and presentations.