Florence (Year 13) Editor's note: Year 13 student Florence, applying to study Law at university, wrote this insightful piece exploring the extent to which law should intervene in personal autonomy. Florence carefully concludes that whether or not the law should intervene is a complex issue that is largely based on the individual case - there … Continue reading To what extent should law intervene in personal autonomy?
Shaurya (Year 12) Editor's note: Year 12 student Shaurya entered this essay into the John Locke Global Essay Prize 2025 in the Economics category. He addresses the questions: What kinds of behaviour are engendered by the hope of profit? Is such behaviour better or worse, on balance, than the behaviour we should expect if all … Continue reading What kinds of behaviour are engendered by the hope of profit?
Tanisi (Year 9) Editor's note: Talented Year 9 student Tanisi submitted this interesting essay to the annual John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize in the Junior category. This essay explores the benefits of free speech from two philosophical perspectives, focusing on the roles of both listener and speaker in individual growth and societal interaction. CPD … Continue reading Do you benefit more from your own freedom of speech, or other people’s?
Paarshva (Year 12) Editor's note: Year 12 student Paarshva wrote this essay for entry into the annual John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize. Paarshva explores the debate between the political wisdom of the 'lettered'—those with formal education and theoretical knowledge—and the 'unlettered'—those with experiential, practical knowledge. It examines whether the collective judgment of the unlettered … Continue reading David Hume celebrated the wisdom of “unlettered men”. In a democracy, do the votes of unlettered men tend to protect a country against the bad ideas of the lettered or do the votes of the lettered tend to protect a country against the bad ideas of unlettered men?
Tanisi (Year 8) Editor's note: Current Year 9 student Tanisi wrote this short essay during their time in Year 8. It is fantastic to see some of our passionate younger students engaging with the GSAL Journal. Tanisi argues that conflict is a natural and inevitable aspect of human interaction, often driving societal change and growth … Continue reading Conflict
Lokesh (Year 9) Editor's note: Now in Year 10, talented student Lokesh carefully researched this topic and then wrote this insightful essay for the Sir Martin Gilbert History Prize. This essay explores Britain’s response to Jewish refugees during the Nazi period, analyzing various perspectives and sources to assess whether Britain was truly welcoming or reluctant. … Continue reading Were Jews welcomed to Britain during the Nazi period?
Nayonika (Year 12) Editor's note: Nayonika, now in Year 13, wrote this thought-provoking essay and submitted it to the annual Northeastern University London Essay Competition. CPD The “gig economy” refers to the idea of firms hiring freelancers and temporary workers rather than permanent employees. The gig economy currently is expanding at an exponential rate revolutionising … Continue reading Does expanding the gig economy contribute positively to sustainable economic growth?
Hannah (Year 12) Editor's note: Hannah wrote this essay during her time in Year 12 at GSAL. It was submitted for peer review at Routes: The Journal for Student Geographers. Hannah is now studying Geography at the University of Durham. CPD The ‘demographic timebomb’ is often used to refer to the crisis that many countries … Continue reading Has the Demographic Timebomb already been Detonated?
Hannah (Year 12) Editor's note: Hannah wrote this essay during her time in Year 12 at GSAL. It was entered into the annual Minds Underground Essay Competition. Hannah is now studying Geography at the University of Durham. CPD Dambisa Moyo argues in her book ‘Dead Aid’ (Moyo, 2010), that foreign aid has failed to promote … Continue reading ‘Millions in Africa are poorer today because of aid; misery and poverty have not ended but increased’ (DAMBISA MOYO). What do you think?
Eliza (Year 12) & Miss Breen (GSAL librarian) Editor's note: The interesting collaboration between Eliza, a Year 12 student, and Miss Breen, one of our fantastic school librarians, sheds an important light on studying humanities at degree level at university. CPD Foreword This article discusses the importance of studying Humanities at degree level. As more … Continue reading Humanities at University
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