Attendees and A-level students at last year’s EPQ Showcase at The Joseph Wright Centre
Visitors to Derby College Group’s (DCG) Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) Showcase are about to find out.
On Wednesday 14 October 2026, A-level students at the Joseph Wright Centre in Derby will share the projects they have spent the past year researching, building and refining, and the public is invited to come along.
The free event, running from 5pm to 6:30pm, celebrates the curiosity, creativity and commitment of students completing the AQA Extended Project Qualification.
Each project began with a single question that sparked a student’s interest. The showcase reveals where that question led.
Visitors can expect a remarkable range of work, from in depth investigations and research papers to creative artefacts and practical outcomes, each reflecting the individual passions and ambitions of the student behind it.
Working alongside their A-levels, students have planned their projects from scratch, carried out independent research, weighed up a wide range of sources, responded to feedback and made their own decisions about how their work should develop.
Along the way, many have faced setbacks, changed direction and found solutions, just as they will at university and in the workplace.
At the showcase, students will be on hand to talk about their projects, explain the thinking behind their choices and share the challenges they overcame to reach a finished piece of work.
Sally Archer, Head of A-levels at DCG, said: “Every year the EPQ Showcase reminds us what young people can achieve when they are trusted to follow their own curiosity.
“These projects are entirely student led, and the commitment, resilience and originality on display is genuinely inspiring. I’d encourage anyone who wants to see what independent learning really looks like to come along and talk to our students.”
The EPQ is highly valued by universities because it develops the skills that matter most for higher study: critical thinking, organisation, problem solving, communication and independent learning. It can also earn students additional UCAS points and give them a real edge in competitive applications.
The showcase is open to families, friends, staff, employers and members of the community. It is also a brilliant opportunity for students just starting their A-levels to see what the EPQ involves and get inspired for their own projects.
Event details
Date: Wednesday 14 October 2026
Time: 5pm to 6:30pm
Venue: Joseph Wright Centre, Cathedral Road, Derby DE1 3PA
Admission is free and tickets are available to book through Eventbrite. Book your free tickets now.
