Empowering EE and EPQ Supervisors

One of the most encouraging things about EE and EPQ supervision is how deeply supervisors care about their students’ growth. Behind every meeting is a desire to help them discover and clarify ideas, persevere, and truly lead their own learning.

At the same time, supervision is a partnership. And just like any relationship, shared expectations, clarity, and communication make all the difference. Subtle things like students hesitating to take initiative or feeling unsure of next steps can easily slow the momentum of an otherwise promising project.

One of the most powerful tools supervisors have in these moments is open questions. The right open questions do more than unblock progress, they also build trust, strengthen the relationship, and remind students that their voice, their own thinking, and their ownership truly matter.

Here are a few questions that often quietly cultivate independence and momentum in supervision conversations.

🟡If you were leading this meeting, what would you choose to focus on next?

🟡 What’s one small step that feels doable for you this week?

🟡 What helps you reconnect with what first interested you about this topic?

🟡 What support do you need from me, and what are you confident handling on your own?

🟡 Which part of the project do you feel ready to take ownership of next?

🟡 What do you think is holding you back at the moment?

🟡 What would 1% progress look like today?

🟡 How can we use our meetings so you feel fully supported and in charge of your project?

What are your favourite supervision questions? Leave your thoughts in the comments on Linkedin.

If your team is looking for communication practices that strengthen motivation and accountability in EE or/and EPQ supervision, feel free to reach out — we are always happy to exchange ideas.