Education Conferences
Modernising Your Curriculum From Within
Conference – Cranleigh School – Tuesday 7th July 2026
The EPQ and the Quiet Revolution of Project-Based Thinking. A one-day conference for British and British International Schools presented by Dr. Joh Taylor and Andy Homden.
OVERVIEW
It seems that there has never been more concern about what we should be teaching in our schools. The world is changing so quickly and curriculum reform can hardly keep up. Almost unnoticed, however, a ‘quiet revolution’ has been taking place in British curriculum schools around the world, brought about by the Extended Project Qualification. Introduced just fifteen years ago the ‘EPQ’ is recognised and valued by both universities and employers as essential preparation both for the world of work and higher education. Its adoption is, interestingly, also spreading to schools outside the British system. Externally validated project-based programmes in the UK are now also available for students in Key Stages 2, 3 and 4, making it possible for a school to develop a coherent Project Based Thinking programme which complements the development of other thinking styles taught in a rigorous, subject based curriculum. Once introduced, Project-Based Thinking also has a tendency to affect the way people teach and how a school organises its curriculum in a process of quiet modernisation. 
SPEAKERS AND WORKSHOP LEADERS
Dr. John Taylor is Director of Curriculum, Innovation and International Education at Cranleigh Schools. He is one of the architects of the EPQ and has worked in assessment and qualification development with leading awarding organisations, playing an instrumental role in the design of the new iPQ, the FPQ and the HPQ Project-based programmes typically studied by students aged 11 to 16.
Andy Homden is the CEO of Consilium Education, Editor of International Teacher Magazine and the former Head of leading British International Schools in Asia and the Gulf. A pioneer teacher of the Schools Council History Project, he was greatly influenced by the coursework revolution of the 1980s and 90s and would like to see students in the 2020s benefitting from a similarly rigorous approach.
CONFERENCE THEMES
John and Andy will be exploring a number of themes that are they regard as essential in a modern curriculum:
- Why Project-Based Thinking is an essential ‘future skill’ for our students
- Smart Project Planning and Management: How can project work fit within or alongside other timetabled subjects in Years 5 to 12
- How can we use projects to promote independent learning in a system which prizes examination success?
- What are the keys to successful project mentoring?
- Managing AI and ed tech to support project work: How can we best utilise digital
PROGRAMME
09:45 Registration, including Tea and Coffee
10:15 Welcome, overview of the course and aims of the day
10:30 Opening Keynote: Modernising the curriculum from within
John Taylor looks at the ‘EPQ effect’ and how Project-Based Thinking has the potential to transform learning in our schools.
11:30 Coffee
11:40 Workshops: Implementing Project Based Thinking
Delegates will be able to choose two of the following four one-hour sessions:
1.) Developing a whole school PBT programme from Year 5 to Year 12
- Planning a Primary to Secondary Project-Based continuum
- The new Project-based courses: iPQ (KS2 & KS3); FPQ (KS3) and HPQ (KS4)
- Models for timetabling and staffing
2.) Project Skills Development
- Management of the project process
- Project planning
- Supporting creative project work
- Key points about research
3.) Successful Mentoring
- Choosing successful Project titles
- Multi-modal project work
- Managing and utilising AI
- Providing feedback
4.) Empowering learners with PBT skills
- Effective brainstorming
- Understanding analysis and synthesis
- Developing the confidence to ask questions
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Continuation of Workshops
14:30 Plenary Discussion
15:00 Exhibition
There will be an opportunity through the day to view the outstanding work of EPQ candidates from Cranleigh School.
15:15 Close
BOOKING INFORMATION
Ticket prices are £300.00 plus *VAT @ 20% = £360.00 per person. Tickets can be purchased by completing a booking form and BACs payment.
Alternatively you can also attend virtually at a reduced rate of £150.00 plus *VAT @ 20% = £180.00 per person
All tickets can be purchased by completing a booking form and BACs payment.
Please complete the booking form
Please note that this course is managed entirely by Cranleigh School; it is not an awarding body training event and no awarding body is responsible for its content.
For further details please contact our Commercial Manager, Mrs Michelle Chilcott, on 01483 542081 or via email: mic@cranleigh.org.
BOOK NOW!
ACCOMMODATION AND FAMILY ACTIVITES
If you require any information about accommodation in the Cranleigh area please get in touch with us directly at mic@cranleigh.org
Surrey is also a great county for a family visit at the start of the summer holidays! For any recommendations or advice on where to go please do reach out.
*UK VAT
VAT is not applicable to organisations registered for VAT in the EU or which are
registered for business outside the UK and EU.
Organisations registered for VAT in the UK will be able to claim their VAT payments.
Payments by individuals are all subject to VAT