14 Chwefror 2025
Croeso
Welcome to this week’s School Blog. We have plenty of exciting news and achievements to share. From impressive sporting successes to the ongoing development of our transition programme with our feeder primary schools, there’s so much to celebrate. We hope you enjoy reading about the fantastic things happening here at Castell Alun.
Strengthening Links
On Wednesday, we were pleased to welcome our Feeder Primary School colleagues to Castell Alun as part of our ongoing transition programme. These opportunities to collaborate are vital in ensuring that students experience a smooth and supportive move from primary to secondary education. By sharing best practices and teaching strategies, we can make sure that the transition is as seamless as possible.
This collaboration is closely tied to the principles of the Curriculum for Wales (CfW), which emphasises progression, continuity and a shared approach to learning across all stages. Together, we focus on building a solid foundation in well-being and academic development, ensuring that each student feels confident and ready for the next step in their learning journey.
During the meeting, we discussed key areas such as teaching approaches, assessment practices and our focus on Health and Wellbeing and Cymraeg. These discussions allow us to align our curriculum and teaching methods to meet the needs of all learners and ensure that every student continues to progress smoothly from primary school to secondary school. Ongoing visits and meetings with our feeder primary schools are helping us gain a deeper understanding of students’ learning environments and needs. By working together in this way, we can create a consistent, supportive learning experience that allows students to thrive as they transition into Castell Alun. We look forward to further strengthening these relationships and continuing to support all students in their learning journeys.
CyberFirst Girls Competition
Excitement filled the air as the girls met at Wrexham station, ready for the day ahead. On the train, they quickly bonded with the Ysgol John Bright team.
After arriving in Newport, the girls explored stalls, grabbed freebies and enjoyed a delicious buffet lunch. The afternoon brought the main event: a three-hour “Capture the Flag” cyber challenge. The girls worked brilliantly in pairs, using their strengths to tackle tough tasks, even battling for the top spot on the leaderboard!
Following the competition, they attended the Women in Cyber Conference. They heard from industry leaders like Toni-Ann Grant and Felicity Oswald OBE. Back at the hotel, a surprise awaited—face masks, chocolates and Nosecco to unwind before the evening’s formal reception.
Looking glamorous, they returned to the ICC, enjoying jazz music, networking with inspiring women in cybersecurity and a fantastic dinner. At the end of the night, the girls reflected on their achievement—placing 8th in Wales—and felt justifiably proud and motivated for the future. A huge well done to the team—we can’t wait to see what they do next!
Preparing for Future Careers
50 of our Year 13 students recently participated in mock interviews as part of their Business Studies curriculum. This also prepared them for apprenticeship/ university routes post-18. This initiative provided students with an invaluable opportunity to practise their interview skills in a real-world setting. This will help them to develop the confidence and professionalism required for future careers.
Thanks to the hard work and preparation of our students, the mock interviews were a huge success. We would like to extend a huge thank you to the employers who generously supported this initiative. Their participation gave students a chance to gain direct insights from industry professionals.
A special thank you to the following employers who made this possible: Paul Verinder, E2E Integration; Georgia Paoloni and Jule Salsibury, Altas Copco; Mark Davies, Aaron & Partners; Gareth Boyd, Walking Food Tours UK; Gavin Priest, Gavin Priest Photography; Alex Moisley, Nuffield Health; Liz Chapman, Oliver & Co; Annie Bolton, WR Partners; Luke Aldous and Bethanie Shallish-Moore, Airbus.
These mock interviews have provided our students with essential experience. This will help them succeed in their future job or apprenticeship applications. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and look forward to seeing them thrive in their next steps.
Thank you to everyone involved for making this a memorable and beneficial experience!
Celebrating Dydd Miwsig Cymru
As part of our Dydd Miwsig Cymru celebrations, we were delighted to welcome Owain and Huw from the Urdd. They facilitated engaging Welsh cultural sessions with some of our Blwyddyn 11 students. During these sessions, students had the fantastic opportunity to listen to a range of contemporary Cerddoriaeth Cymraeg (Welsh music). This experience not only introduced them to new artists and genres but also deepened their understanding of the important role music plays in Welsh culture. It was a brilliant way to celebrate and promote the richness of the Welsh language through music!
Sporting Updates
It’s been another fantastic week of sport for our students, showcasing their talent, teamwork, and dedication across multiple disciplines.
Da iawn to our Year 7 netballers who played a friendly against Argoed this afternoon! Both teams mixed things up, played in different positions and put in a great performance—ardderchog genod!
On Monday, our Year 7/8 boys’ rugby team had an exciting match against Ysgol Dinas Brân, securing a 25-14 victory. A brilliant display of skill and teamwork—well done to all involved!
Our KS3 badminton teams had a fantastic experience at the Flintshire Schools’ competition. Our girls’ team won the competition with an outstanding performance, while our boys demonstrated excellent sportsmanship throughout.
A huge Da iawn to everyone!
At Castell Alun, we are always proud to celebrate the incredible achievements of our students. This week, three of our students have truly shone on the international stage in rugby, hockey and football.
A huge congratulations to Kayla, who represented Valkyries U16s in rugby and was awarded Players’ Player by the opposition! This is a fantastic recognition of her skill—an achievement to be truly proud of!
Meanwhile, an exciting opportunity awaits Finn. He has been selected as one of just 45 players traveling to Scotland to represent Wales U18 in hockey. This is a remarkable achievement, and we can’t wait to see him showcase his talent on the international stage.
A massive well done to Ruben (Year 10), who will be representing Wales U15 in rugby this month in France against Portugal and France. What an incredible experience—pob lwc Ruben! Well done to Kayla, Finn, and Ruben. Your commitment and hard work are inspiring, and we look forward to seeing what you accomplish next!
Upcoming Events
Year 9 Parents/Options Evening – Thursday 20th February 2025
You can see our full range of upcoming events by heading over to our Events Calendar page.
MORE SEATS NOW RELEASED!
In Closing
As we wrap up this week’s School Blog, we’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who makes our school community so special. A huge thank you to our dedicated teachers, staff, and partners. Your unwavering commitment and support enrich the experiences of our students. We are incredibly grateful to the local businesses, volunteers and everyone who gives their time and expertise to help our students thrive. Your contributions make a real difference. We couldn’t be prouder of the strong, collaborative community we have here at Castell Alun.
Diolch i chi am bopeth Thank you for all that you do!
Safeguarding
If you have any safeguarding concerns, please contact our Designated Safeguarding Officers: Mr Colin Ellis, Mrs Gail Davies and Mr Craig Stewart. You can reach them via the School Office or by using our Contact Form.
