9 Hydref 2026
Bore da and welcome to another edition of our School Blog! It has been a week of celebrating our language, developing new skills and creating memorable experiences across Castell Alun. From embracing our Welsh heritage through our Shwmae Su’mae assembly, to our Year 13 students exploring the world of economics at Bangor University, there has been plenty to celebrate. We have also been part of something particularly special this week, joining schools across the world in an exciting Guinness World Records™ reading challenge! These experiences reflect our commitment to developing successful futures, encouraging students to broaden their horizons, embrace new opportunities and develop skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.
Celebrating our Welsh Language
This week’s whole-school assembly celebrated our Welsh language and heritage as we prepare for Diwrnod Shwmae Su’mae Day on Friday 16th October. Led by our Welsh department and students, Nathan, Scarlett, Olivia and Amelia, the assembly explored the history of Cymraeg, its importance to our identity and culture, and the many benefits of being bilingual. Students were encouraged to embrace opportunities to use Welsh in everyday life, recognising that even a simple “Bore da” or “Diolch” can make a difference.
We also celebrated our success in achieving the Cymraeg Campus Bronze and Silver Awards, as we continue working towards Gold and developing a stronger bilingual culture across Castell Alun. Albie and Anya shared a lovely poem celebrating the Welsh language, while Anna encouraged everyone to take pride in our heritage and have the confidence to give Cymraeg a go. The assembly also introduced an exciting programme of activities, including bilingual bingo, quizzes, a Welsh graffiti wall, language rewards and our upcoming Year 7 disco.
A special thank you to all the students involved in delivering the assembly and to our Year 10 band for their fantastic musical performance of Local Boy in the Photograph by Stereophonics. The message was simple: you don’t have to speak Welsh perfectly – what matters is having a go! Trwych eich gorau – give it your best!
Economics at Bangor University
Our Year 13 Economics students enjoyed an inspiring visit to Bangor University this week, where they attended the Discover Economics Conference. The event provided a valuable opportunity to explore the world of economics beyond the classroom, with students hearing from leading university lecturers and economists, including representatives from the Welsh Government.
Throughout the day, students also participated in engaging workshops designed to develop their understanding of contemporary economic issues, while strengthening important skills such as collaboration, communication and adaptability. A particular well done goes to Keilah, Alise and James, who were individually selected to question the guest speakers about their career journeys and current economic topics.
It was a fantastic opportunity for our students to broaden their knowledge, gain an insight into future study and career pathways, and experience economics in a real-world context. Da iawn pawb!
World Record Breakers Once Again!
On Thursday 8th October, Castell Alun High School was delighted to take part in an exciting Guinness World Records™ attempt for the most people reading together online over 12 hours! Organised by the National Literacy Trust and the British Council as part of the National Year of Reading 2026, the event brought together schools and communities from across the world to celebrate the joy and benefits of reading. The event was part of the Take 10 to Read campaign, encouraging everyone to take just ten minutes out of their day to enjoy a good book and recognise the positive impact reading can have on our wellbeing.
With developing reading skills being one of our key Teaching and Learning priorities this year, this was a fantastic opportunity for our students to be part of something special while celebrating the importance of reading for learning, pleasure and life beyond the classroom.
Interestingly, this is not Castell Alun’s first experience of a world record attempt! Back in 2003, over 900 of our students took part in a Guinness World Record event for the largest first aid lesson, making this our second involvement in a world record-breaking challenge.
We are incredibly proud to have been part of another memorable occasion and look forward to hearing whether the new world record has been officially confirmed. What a wonderful way to celebrate reading and our school community!
Diolch yn fawr to everyone who took part!
Upcoming Events
Year 11 Progress Evening – Thursday 16th October (4pm-6pm)
CAFA Sound Bath Evening – Tuesday 20th October 2026
Lost Property
A reminder that each Friday, photographs of all unclaimed lost property are shared on the School Blog for parents and carers to view, as well as on Google Classroom for students to check. If students recognise an item, they should speak to their group tutor to arrange collection during registration or at another suitable time during the school day. Any items that remain unclaimed at the end of each half term will be donated to charity, so please do take a look each week to see if you spot anything familiar!
In Closing
Another busy week draws to a close, and we would like to thank our students, staff, parents and carers for their continued support. Whether it is developing new skills in the classroom, representing the school in sport, or simply making positive choices each day, it is these everyday actions that help our young people to develop successful futures. We hope everyone has an enjoyable and restful weekend, and we look forward to another positive week ahead.
Have a lovely weekend – Mwynhewch eich penwythnos!
Safeguarding
If you have any safeguarding concerns, please contact our Designated Safeguarding Officers: Mr Ellis, Mrs Davies or Mr Stewart. You can reach them via the School Office or by using our Contact Form.
