Welcome to The GSAL Journal’s very own Hall of Fame
2025-26
Shaurya (Year 12) – SHORT-LISTED: What kinds of behaviour are engendered by the hope of profit? 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 enterprises were owned by charities or governments? The judges short-listed Shaurya’s work from over 63,000 entries across all subject areas. He is invited to an awards evening in London where the winning entries will be announced. CPD
Tehan (Year 13) – WINNER: What are the drivers of the global moves away from free trade and how should the UK respond? Year 12 student Tehan, now in Year 13, wrote this essay for submission to the FCDO Next Generation Economics 2025 competition. They chose to answer the question: While free trade has been the dominant view in the last decades, protectionist policies are on the rise. What are the drivers of the global moves away from free trade and how should the UK respond? Pleasingly, out of over 800 entries, Tehan’s submission was recognised in the top eight of all entries received. As the judges note, “The candidate did well to consider the UK’s position in the global trade debate as a service based economy in contrast to some European partners. The letter also analysed the political drivers of the shift towards protectionism as well as the economic drivers. It would have been helpful if the candidate had demonstrated their understanding of economic theory a bit more in the letter which would have also strengthened their argument.” Tehan wins a visit to LSE and the FCDO in London, prize money of £100, and a free book from a shortlist selected by the FCDO Chief Economist. CPD
2024-25
Hanna (Year 11) – VERY HIGHLY COMMENDED: Why do civilisations collapse? Is our civilisation in danger? Year 11 student Hanna submitted this excellent essay to the prestigious John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize 2024. In a strong field of entries from all over the world, Hanna’s entry was recognised as ‘Very Highly Commended‘. The essay demonstrates excellent independent research, skilled synthesis of a range of academic resources, and effective written communication in an academic style. Hanna makes a range of strong arguments, well supported by evidence. CPD
GSAL British Science Week Essay Competition 2025
WINNER: Tanisi (Year 9) – What role could AI play in medicine and healthcare?
2023-24
Hannah (Year 13) – WINNER: How can long-term thinking in the field of Philosophy foster optimism about the future?. Congratulations to The Grammar School At Leeds pupil Hannah, who has won the prize for the Best Overall Essay in the OxBright Essay Competition 2023! OxBright’s mission is to inspire students to succeed, find their purpose and make a difference in the world. Hannah wrote a brilliant essay answering the question “How can long-term thinking in the field of Philosophy foster optimism about the future?” The panel of judges were extremely impressed with Hannah’s essay, ranking it as the Best Overall Essay within a very competitive field of over 1000 entries. Hannah received a Certificate of Achievement and has won a free place on the Oxford Scholastica Summer School, worth £6,995. This huge achievement is a credit to Hannah’s hard work and to the School as a whole!
Theo (Year 13) – HIGHLY COMMENDED: ‘A whole is that which has a beginning, middle, and end.’ (Aristotle). Are all dramatic works ‘whole’? Theo researched, wrote and submitted this exceptional academic essay to the Gould Prize for Essays in English Literature, organised by Trinity College, Cambridge, during his time in Year 12 at GSAL. This essay was awarded Highly Commended and Theo was invited to visit Trinity College in person. Theo is now studying for a degree in Classics and English at Queen’s College, Oxford. CPD
GSAL International Women’s Day Competition 2024
WINNERS: Yu-Han (Year 8) and Tanishtha (Year 10).
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Madeleine (Year 8), Phoebe (Year 8) and Olivia (Year 8).
GSAL Science Week Competition 2024
WINNERS: Rucha (Year 8) and Shaurya (Year 10).
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Imaan, Jamie and William (Year 7), Tanisi (Year 8) and Isaac (Year 9).
GSAL Black History Month Competition 2023
WINNERS: Alex (Year 12), Jay (Year 12), Rose (Year 13) and Theo (Year 11).
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Hope (Year 12), Kiara (Year 13) and Priyanka (Year 13).
2022-23
Onella & Tatiana (Year 11) – WINNERS: Immerse Education Essay Competition. The competition saw 10,000 entries from students worldwide, with winners receiving partial scholarships to university summer camps for young writers. Onella entered the creative writing category, while Tatiana entered her essay into politics and debate.
Zaina (Year 12) – SECOND PLACE: Is it morally acceptable to own pets? Zaina wrote this essay during her time in Year 12, successfully submitting it to the Lincoln University Philosophy Essay Competition. As the judges noted, “I am delighted to announce that your paper has won second prize. Congratulations! There were more than 50 excellent submissions from 9 countries and you should be extremely proud of this accomplishment. A list of prize winners will be published at the University’s website shortly, and I will forward you your prize soon.”
Vishnu (Year 12) – HIGHLY COMMENDED: Can it Ever Be Morally Acceptable to Sacrifice an Innocent Person for the Greater Good? Year 12 Student Vishnu considers a big, moral question through multiple different theories. A well researched piece on a discussion that holds a multitude of viewpoints. Vishnu very successfully entered this into the NCH Undergraduate Essay Competition.
Diva (Year 9) – HIGHLY COMMENDED: In your view, what is the most influential written document and why? Diva submitted this essay to the annual Perse School Aristotelian Award essay competition. As the judges noted, “[We are] delighted to announce that Diva [was] shortlisted for the Arts/Humanities category for the Y9 Aristotelian Award competition we have run this academic year. It means she has won Highly Commended and therefore will definitely receive a monetary prize!”
Raina (Year 12) – FINALIST: Must the law always be obeyed? During her time in Year 12, Raina successfully submitted this essay to the annual Northeastern University Humanities Essay Competition. Although she didn’t go on and win the competition, Raina was shortlisted as a finalist.
GSAL Black History Month Essay Competition 2022
WINNER: Thehara (Year 12) – Frederick McKinley Jones: successful inventor and entrepreneur.
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Anushree (Year 12) – Dr. Jane Wright: Cancer Pioneer.
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Heather (Year 12) – Dr Jane C Wright: The Pioneer of Cancer research.
2021-22
GSAL Refugee Week Competition 2022
WINNERS: The winning entries were Dorothy (Year 7), Angus (Year 8 – art), Harry (Year 8 – poem) and Amelie (Year 12).
GSAL International Women’s Day Essay Competition 2022
YEAR GROUP WINNERS: Eloise (Year 7) – Coco Chanel; Hattie (Year 8) – Harriet Tubman; Sarika (Year 9) – Florence Nightingale.
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Dorothy (Year 7) – Frida Kahlo; Samran (Year 7) – Marie Curie; Diva (Year 8) – Rosa Parks; Zachary (Year 8) – Nefertiti; Theo (Year 9) – Mala Yousafzai.
2020-21
Ayushman (Year 13) – EXTERNAL PUBLICATION: An examination of feasible rocket propulsion systems for a future single stage rocket. Although this excellent contribution has not been published in The GSAL Journal, for copyright reasons, Ayushman has been a regular contributor to The GSAL Journal and his efforts fully deserve to be recognized here. This fascinating piece on rocket propulsion systems was submitted to the Young Scientists Journal, an international peer-review science journal written, reviewed and produced by school students aged 12 to 20. Following a rigorous peer-review process, Ayushman’s work was finally published online.
James (Year 13) – WINNER: To what extent is the ‘Harrying of the North’ responsible for the contemporary economic disparity between the North and South? James submitted this fascinating essay on William the Conqueror‘s Harrying of the North to the Peterhouse College, Cambridge, annual Vellacott History Prize essay competition. James’s essay was a competition winner: as the judges noted, “[t]he standard of entries was high, but the judges felt that your essay stood out for its clarity of argument, stylish prose, level of research, and originality of thought.”
Mei (Year 13) – HIGHLY COMMENDED: Did continual military expansion lead to the decay of the Carolingian Empire? Mei, founder and former Chief Editor of the school’s Humanities Journal, researched and composed this remarkable extended essay on the Carolingian Empire in response to the Robson History Prize essay competition organised by Trinity College, Cambridge. The judges were extremely impressed with Mei’s submission, identifying it as ‘Highly Commended’: “Thank you very much for entering Trinity College’s 2020 Robert Robson Prize for essays in History. In a bumper lockdown year we received over 300 entries for the Prize, but your essay in particular stood out far above the rest of the field, and was Very Highly Commended by the examiners. Many congratulations! You deserve high praise for writing such an outstandingly intelligent and interesting piece of work.”
2019-20
Flaka (Year 13) – SCHOOL WINNER: Could the neutrino be the most interesting particle in physics? Flaka successfully entered this essay into the She Talks Science blog competition run by Murray Edward’s College, Cambridge. She was recognised as a School Winner and her essay was published on the MEC website.
Imogen (Year 12) – SHORTLISTED: Does the public expect too much of UK politicians? This insightful essay was shortlisted for the Political Studies Association Student Blog Competition 2020. Students from across the UK were invited to write 500-600 words on ‘Does the public expect too much of UK Politicians?’ Students were required to demonstrate excellent writing skills: presenting a well reasoned argument, individuality and where appropriate backing up their arguments with relevant data and research.
Imogen (Year 12) – SHORTLISTED: How has warfare changed since WWII? Imogen entered this excellent essay into the New College of Humanities (NCH) annual essay competition. Imogen’s essay was shortlisted from over 5,000 student entries; although she did not ultimately win a prize, this is a remarkable achievement given the strength of the competition.
2018-19
Elle (Year 12) – HIGHLY COMMENDED: Can history teach us lessons? Elle entered the New College of Humanities (NCH) essay competition. Her excellent essay exploring the contemporary relevance and role of historical study was Highly Commended in the History group; it was one of only four to win a category prize from a shortlist of ten. As the NCH note, “[o]ur selection of essay titles engages across a broad range of humanities and social sciences topics and we look forward to receiving entries from talented and intellectually curious students who show passion and academic potential in the humanities and social sciences.”
Harriet (Year 13) – RUNNER UP: C’est Fantastique! French Translation Success. Harriet was runner-up in an A-Level French translation competition organised by the Department of Modern Languages at the University of Kent. She translated a short passage on the theme of immigration written by contemporary author Patrick Chamoiseau from Martinique.
Zara (Year 12) – WINNER: Should we bring wolves back to Britain – what is the scientific case for re-wilding? Zara was one of the winners of Peterhouse’s Kelvin Science Prize in 2019. The standard of entries was really high but the judges felt that her essay stood out for its clarity of argument, stylish prose, level of research and originality of thought. This commendation puts her in the top 10 out of over 200 entries.
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