Future Frontiers: a groundbreaking interdisciplinary GCSE qualification
Queen’s College, London is proud to announce Future Frontiers — a pioneering new interdisciplinary qualification launching in September 2026.
Developed by Natasha Fenwick, Director of Futures and Innovation, and endorsed by EDUQUAL, this course redefines what learning looks like for the next generation of thinkers, creators and leaders.
Preparing students for life beyond exams
At Queen’s, we’ve always believed education should prepare young people not just for exams, but for life.
Drawing on insights from global research, universities such as Oxford and Edinburgh, and organisations including the OECD, the course encourages critical and interdisciplinary thinking across disciplines such as Neuroscience, Psychology, History of Art and Economics.
The programme develops key skills for the future, including research, writing, creativity, presentation and collaboration, through workshops and real-world applications. Assessment includes academic posters and TED-style presentations that mirror the way knowledge is shared in universities and industry today.
Groundbreaking, interdisciplinary, uniquely Queen’s
As Richard Tillett, Principal of Queen’s College, London, explains:
“We were the first to give qualifications to girls – and we’re proud to be first again in shaping what the future of learning looks like.”
The Future Frontiers qualification was developed under the academic leadership of Stephen Bailey, Senior Deputy Head, following a comprehensive review of the curriculum at Key Stage 4, who notes:
“Future Frontiers reflects the conversations taking place nationally and internationally about the purpose of education. We wanted to design a course that would equip our pupils with the intellectual dexterity, problem-solving capabilities and confidence to continue to be pioneers in thought and industry in their futures.”
Queen’s College, London is now an EduQual-approved Centre. EduQual is a regulated awarding body, approved by SQA-Accreditation – a globally recognised national qualification regulator in the UK – and a full member of the Federation of Awarding Bodies.
Future Frontiers sits at the heart of the forthcoming Queen’s Diploma, a broader initiative that embeds skills such as leadership, enterprise, and ethical innovation throughout the curriculum.
Endorsed by industry leaders
The qualification has been endorsed by Martin Adams, entrepreneur, Harvard graduate, and advisor to the World Economic Forum:
“This is exactly the kind of course young people should be experiencing today – forward-looking, participatory, and rooted in the kind of creative, community-based learning that truly prepares students for the future.”
The course also features contributions from David Robson, award-winning science writer and author of The Expectation Effect, who introduces students to “future thinking” as part of the What Does It Mean to Be Human? module.
Watch the announcement video
More information
For more information about Future Frontiers, the Queen’s Diploma or the wider Queen’s curriculum, please contact Natasha Fenwick, Director of Futures and Innovation, at nfenwick@qcl.org.uk.