De-mystifying the Despot: An EPQ Journey from West Yunnan to West Yorkshire

September 17, 2019 ~ thegsaljournal ~ Leave a comment

Julian Wood - GSAL Alumnus & Oxford Graduate Outstanding GSAL alumnus Julian Wood has recently graduated from Pembroke College, Oxford, with a degree in History & English. During his time in the Sixth Form at school, under the expert supervision of recently-retired deputy head Mr Lunn, Julian undertook an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ); here, Julian … Continue reading De-mystifying the Despot: An EPQ Journey from West Yunnan to West Yorkshire

Book Review: Weird Maths

September 16, 2019 ~ thegsaljournal ~ 1 Comment

Benjamin Bissett - Year 9 Student & 2008 Society Member Weird Maths is a factual book written by mathematicians David Darling and Agnijo Banerjee about mathematical and scientific questions that us humans regularly ask about our world and universe. It is divided into 13 easily understood chapters which are all exciting and interesting in their … Continue reading Book Review: Weird Maths

Mr Clements Reads…

September 13, 2019 ~ thegsaljournal ~ Leave a comment

Mr Clements - Librarian All of these books are available in the Lawson Library at GSAL. Bridge of Clay Marcus Zusak A heart-wrenching family saga, narrated by Death, from the author of The Book Thief. I Found You Lisa Jewell A gripping thriller about single mum Alice, who finds a man on the beach outside … Continue reading Mr Clements Reads…

Book Review: The Man Who Couldn’t Stop

September 12, 2019February 9, 2021 ~ thegsaljournal ~ 1 Comment

Alexandra Hall - Year 9 Student & 2008 Society Member 'The Man Who Couldn’t Stop' by David Adam I’ve often wondered if it’s just me who has a sudden urge to jump off a twenty-foot balcony, walk in front of a bus or punch a stranger in the face. Reassuringly, according to David Adam, the … Continue reading Book Review: The Man Who Couldn’t Stop

Book Review: How to Build a Universe

September 12, 2019 ~ thegsaljournal ~ 2 Comments

Amber Malkin - Year 9 Student & 2008 Society Member 'How to Build a Universe' by Professor Brian Cox, Robin Ince and Alexandra Feachem ‘How to Build a Universe’ is written by the presenters and producer of the BBC Radio 4 programme ‘The Infinite Monkey Cage’. The book tries to explain science in a thought-provoking … Continue reading Book Review: How to Build a Universe

A GSAL Salad

September 10, 2019September 11, 2019 ~ thegsaljournal ~ 1 Comment

Leo Khan - Year 8 Student A poem by Leo Khan (Year 8), written in the style of renowned poet Benjamin Zephaniah. Author's note: Dr. Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah was born and he grew up in Birmingham. He was always writing or even making up poetry but this had nothing to do with school, where … Continue reading A GSAL Salad

Missing: The Lost Colony of Roanoke

June 7, 2019June 7, 2019 ~ thegsaljournal ~ 1 Comment

Tessa Grainger - Year 8 Historian Tessa Grainger (Year 8) has written a short story for the Historical Association Historical Fiction Competition 2019. Historical fiction allows students to use their historical imagination to bring the past to life and to creatively fill some of the many gaps left by the written records that have survived. … Continue reading Missing: The Lost Colony of Roanoke

The Children of the Revolution

June 3, 2019June 3, 2019 ~ thegsaljournal ~ 2 Comments

Izzy Smith - Year 8 Historian Izzy Smith (Year 8) has written a short story for the Historical Association Historical Fiction Competition 2019. Historical fiction allows students to use their historical imagination to bring the past to life and to creatively fill some of the many gaps left by the written records that have survived. … Continue reading The Children of the Revolution

Salutaris 2019

May 1, 2019July 1, 2020 ~ thegsaljournal ~ 12 Comments

Mr C Dodd - Staff Editor Salutaris is the GSAL Sixth Form academic journal. It is an annual publication that provides Sixth Form students the opportunity to showcase their academic writing. It also provides a number of students with editorial experience. The name 'Salutaris' means 'health-giving' or 'beneficial', i.e. promoting healthy academic discussion and writing … Continue reading Salutaris 2019

GSAL Competition: One Word

April 5, 2019April 26, 2019 ~ thegsaljournal ~ 1 Comment

Mr C Dodd - Staff Editor This exciting GSAL competition, based on the Dukes Education Essay Prize, is open to all students at GSAL. Inspired by the famous past entrance exam for fellows at All Souls College, Oxford, students write an essay in response to a one-word title. Students can choose any subject or combination … Continue reading GSAL Competition: One Word