Blog

Approaching Half Term Welcome to the School Blog. It’s hard to believe there are only two more school weeks until half term and that winter is nearly over! Celebrating Welsh Culture Over the last two weeks, we’ve celebrated three important annual Welsh events in school. On Tuesday, January 25th, it […]

Three Weeks In Welcome to the School Blog. We are already three weeks into this half term, and despite the short daylight hours, time is flying in school! We remain grateful for the decent winter weather as we complete the final elements of our new build refurbishments and put the […]

Midway Through Winter Welcome to the School Blog. We are now past the midway point of winter, and to date, the weather has been quite kind. For this, we are really grateful, especially as we near the conclusion of our building works. COVID Guidelines and Student Compliance We continue to […]

Back to School Welcome to the School Blog. It’s lovely to have a full week under our belt again after our students’ return from a perhaps quieter-than-normal Christmas break for many. A New Year and New Term The national picture appears to be gradually changing with regard to the virus […]

Wrapping Up a Positive Term Welcome to the School Blog. A long and positive term draws to a close on Tuesday next week. Although we would prefer to see the entire school family together to celebrate Christmas in our usual manner with a whole school assembly, this was not possible. […]

Nearing the End of Term Welcome to the School Blog. As we near the end of the term, we find ourselves in a position of uncertainty regarding virus developments and future implications. At the time of writing, no new announcements have been made by the Welsh Government, although we anticipate […]

Important Updates and Exciting Activities Welcome to the School Blog. Although we are in constant contact with Flintshire County Council and other advisory bodies, we confirm that the last day of teaching this term will be Tuesday, 21st December. Thank you for ensuring all students wear masks inside the school […]

Winter is Coming Welcome to the School Blog. It seems autumn has officially ended, and winter is on its way. We’re thrilled that the work on our school campus is nearly complete. Our long-awaited all-weather pitch will soon be available, and we hope some parking issues will also be resolved. […]

Embracing Autumn Welcome to the School Blog. We appreciate the lovely weather over the past week, which has allowed us to offer ample outdoor time for all students. This opportunity has been especially valuable as we admire the progress of our new building and site developments. TEDx Public Speaking Success […]

Reflections and Celebrations Welcome to the School Blog. Yesterday, we held a poignant reflection on the theme of sacrifice made during war for Remembrance Day. The entire school observed a time of silence and discussed the hope for a future where the mistakes of the past are not repeated. Thank […]

Full Steam Ahead Welcome to the School Blog. It’s clear that many students have enjoyed a lovely half-term break, returning to school ready to press on with their learning. Campus Developments Noticeable developments have occurred around the campus, and we aim to complete the building and refurbishment work by the […]

Autumn Updates from Castell Alun Welcome to the School Blog. Autumn is truly here, and we’ve had a busy week at Castell Alun. Welcoming New Teachers We are delighted to welcome associate teachers for their first placement from the universities of Chester, Bangor, and Liverpool. Despite the weather, our GCSE […]

Celebrating Welsh Language Day Welcome to the School Blog. Bore da! We were greeted by a crisp, fresh Autumn morning and today is ‘diwrnod Shwmae Su’mae’ (a Welsh language celebration day). Throughout the day, we aim to encourage the use of Cymraeg in everyday life in Cymru. This is also […]

School Renovation Updates Welcome to the School Blog. We continue to run the school amidst renovation work, and we remain thankful for the mature and responsible behaviour of virtually all our students during these times. Student Feedback and Improvements Thank you for the feedback you have provided over recent weeks […]

Remembering Chantelle Welcome to the School Blog. One year ago, we lost Chantelle. In keeping with her family’s wishes, we held a thoughtful, reflective time today with her closest friends. This helped us celebrate the values Chantelle held dear. Friendship, fun, tolerance, and kindness will always remain foundation stones at […]

Mid-Term Reflections Welcome to the School Blog. It’s hard to believe we are nearly halfway through our first half term already. Lots of wonderful learning is taking place, and our students are as engaged and inquisitive as ever. Students who have tested positive are self-isolating, and each of them continues […]

Welcome Back to School! Welcome to the School Blog. It’s great to be back and, at the same time, almost impossible to comprehend how so many students have grown so much over just six weeks! A Warm Welcome A massive welcome to our new Year 7 and their parents/carers. We […]

Final Update of the Academic Year As this is the final School Blog of the academic year, we must begin by thanking so many people for all that has been achieved and endured since September 2020. First and foremost, we are very grateful to our students for their conduct and […]

Navigating Challenges and Celebrating Achievements Welcome to the School Blog. As you are well aware, we have had a trying time this week with several positive COVID cases in Years 12, 9, and now one in Year 8. We continue to ask for your patience and understanding as we follow […]

End-of-June Reflections and Updates Welcome to the School Blog. As June gradually draws to a close, our thoughts turn to students and staff moving on to new opportunities over the summer. Although this can be a sad time for us, it is tremendously exciting for many, and we wish everyone […]

Navigating Building Works Welcome to the School Blog. The weeks are racing by, and the summer break is not far off. School remains incredibly busy, even without Years 11 and 13 in the building. Our new build is on track for completion on time, and we are grateful for the […]

Building Works and Resilience Welcome to the School Blog. Our students and staff continue to show great resilience and flexibility as we navigate closures of sections of the building to allow Wilmot Dixon access to relevant areas. Additionaly, we are especially grateful to Hope Parish Church for allowing us to […]

Farewell to Years 11 and 13 Welcome to the School Blog. Today is both a joyous and reflective time as students in Years 11 and 13 formally leave us. Friendships formed here will last a lifetime, and our students have admirably moved forward in their life’s journey, creating precious memories […]

Weekly Update Welcome to the School Blog. Everyone is in good spirits, despite a wet close to the week. Years 11 and 13 Updates Years 11 and 13 have just one week left in school, and many are still busy completing final pieces of work in certain subjects. We share […]

Introduction Welcome to the School Blog. Despite the obvious spring showers, some much heavier than others, all students have managed to spend time outside during the school day over the last week. We believe this is a healthy approach and continue to ask that all students bring their coats, at […]

Weekly Update Welcome to the School Blog. We’ve had four seasons in one week since my last update. I appreciate how well-behaved students have been when it’s not possible to spend time outside at break or lunch. We all hope summer is just around the corner. In Memoriam: Miss Mair […]

Weekly Update Welcome to the School Blog. Although we saw some rain this week, students eagerly embraced the fresh air during leisure time, even with cooler temperatures. Extra-Curricular Programme Relaunch We have re-launched our extra-curricular programme. Students learned about the opportunities during registration. Follow this link to view the upcoming […]

Settling Back into School Life Welcome to the School Blog. Now that all year groups have settled back well into school, the fine weather is clearly helping everyone enjoy time in the fresh air when not in classrooms. Year 7 Parents’ Evening Yesterday evening, we held our virtual Year 7 […]

Leading Castell Alun Welcome to the School Blog. Leading Castell Alun, a school held in such high regard both locally and nationally, is a privilege. We focus on learning—developing, improving, and progressing. For effective learning, everyone must feel happy and safe, both physically and mentally. Vision and Values My vision […]

A Busy and Exciting End to Term Welcome to the School Blog. It has been a vibrant and wonderful end to the term, with the greatly welcomed return of students. We started with Years 11, 12, and 13, followed by Years 10, 7, 9, and finally 8. We’re thrilled about […]

We’re Back! Welcome to the School Blog! This week, we’ve been thrilled to see our students return to campus! It’s been a while since we’ve had entire year groups in school. We welcomed Years 11 and 13 on Monday, followed by Year 12 on Thursday, and Year 10 today. We’re […]

Returning to School Welcome to the School Blog. We’re thrilled to announce that starting Monday, we’ll be welcoming Year 13 and Year 11 back to school! Following that, Year 12 and Year 10 will also return, with Year 7, 8, and 9 scheduled for a day each in the final […]

Welcome Back Welcome to the School Blog. As we start a new half term, I hope you’re feeling a bit refreshed and that students are ready to dive back into their learning. I understand that despite our best efforts, not everyone will feel completely recharged. Your commitment during these challenging […]

Welcome Back Welcome to the School Blog. As we start a new half term, I hope you’re feeling a bit refreshed and that students are ready to dive back into their learning. I understand that despite our best efforts, not everyone will feel completely recharged. Your commitment during these challenging […]

Half Term Reflections Welcome to the School Blog and at last, it’s half term! This past week’s Wellbeing Week at Castell Alun has been a fantastic chance for students to catch up and reflect on their learning. It’s great to hear that students found the week beneficial, giving them a […]

Keep Pushing Forward! Welcome to the School Blog. Ella Fitzgerald once said, “Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do” – a fantastic reminder to keep pushing forward, no matter how tough things get. Wellbeing Week Next week’s Wellbeing Week is a brilliant initiative. It’s […]

Update on the Return to School and Current Challenges Welcome to the School Blog. As January winds down, we continue to navigate through these unusual times. We expect an announcement today from the Minister regarding the return to school for students in Wales. Although details are still forthcoming, similar updates […]

Recent Announcements and Developments Welcome to the School Blog. This Wednesday’s Welsh Government briefing provided clarity on the awarding of examination grades, positioning schools centrally in this process. We’ve communicated Qualification Wales’s directives to all examination class students and parents/carers. While details are still forthcoming, we know we’ll rely on […]

An Unusual Quiet Welcome to the School Blog for 15th January, 2021. It’s eerily quiet in the school building, yet we’re bustling with activity behind the scenes, delivering the remote curriculum and supporting students working diligently from home. A Week of Hard Work and Dedication Our students have been putting […]

A New Year and New Term Happy New Year to all and welcome to the first School Blog of 2021! As we begin this new term, things are very different from our usual routine. Learning has shifted online, with students studying from home instead of being here, where we all […]