Emily - Year 9 Student Editor's Note: Are you the new Blake? Many of us have been going for daily walks if able to do so. Borrowing poet William Blake's form, Emily Y9 has written her own poem about her recent wanderings. Her poem ends in an uplifting manner; the bit of cheer that we … Continue reading Wandering
Eva - Year 8 Student Editor's Note: This short piece of excellent fictional writing was completed by Eva Y11 as part of her studies in English. CPD The darkness, streaked with moonlight, creeps up on us. The calamity is as foreboding as King Marold’s empty eyes. I shiver, but not because of the midnight chill. … Continue reading A Short Story
Kartik - Year 10 Student Editor's Note: Written as part of his studies in English Language, the sense of threat and the lack of opportunity for escape comes across really strongly in this edited version of Kartik’s longer piece. The phrase ‘New Assignment’ may also strike fear in the hearts of those posting them during … Continue reading ‘New Assignment’: the evil, soul-destroying message
Spencer - Year 9 Student Editor's Note: Spencer (Year 9) wrote the following in response to pick-and-mix tasks consolidating two poems, one of which was Alfred, Lord Tennyson's famous 1854 narrative poem The Charge of the Light Brigade. Spencer's chosen task asked the students to turn the words shown below into another poem or a … Continue reading The Charge, crunched
Archie - Year 10 Student Editor's Note: Year 10 English Language students were tasked with writing descriptively about the room in which they were working; this gem comes from Archie. MJP Upon a hill in North Yorkshire, there sits a house half swallowed by nature. Behind the coarse stone and scratched glass, there is an … Continue reading The Room I’m Working In
Barnaby - Year 7 Student Editor's Note: This is a beautifully uplifting piece of writing Barnaby submitted as part of the BBC Radio 2 500 Words 2020 competition. KSH A year ago, I was in a classroom, collecting money for charity on the teacher’s desk. A month ago, I was storage for spare stationary. Today, … Continue reading Glass Jar
Oliver - Year 7 Student Editor's Note: Students were asked to complete the following creative writing task under timed conditions: 'Describe an old-fashioned room as suggested by the picture'. Oliver's response demonstrates some truly fantastic writing. ADM The room had a musty odour, evocative of grandparents’ houses - the type that makes you feel safe … Continue reading An Old-fashioned Room
Harri Cham - Year 10 Student Editor's Note: After publishing his excellent debut piece on 'Why we should all be watching Peppa Pig', Harri returns with this very impressive review of the ubiquitous iPhone. Harri has real talent and flair, demonstrating considerable skill in his writing. If you feel inspired by Harri's efforts, why not … Continue reading The iPhone: A Review
Lilian Turner - Year 11 Student Editor's Note: On European Day of Languages in September 2019, The Association for Language Learning ran a competition in which pupils had to write a piece on the topic of ‘A Magical Journey’. Entries were chosen from a large pool in Year 8-11 and GSAL received a commendation from … Continue reading Un viaje mágico en la cabeza de Lilian
Vicky Bell - Year 13 Student Editor's Note: Vicky is a talented student with a real flair for creative writing. She decided to write this creative, original short story as part of her A-Level English Language course. It is modeled on a piece published online by wajahat75, entitled 'Flashback: A very short short-story'. Vicky also … Continue reading Lavender: A Flashback
The GSAL Journal 