1 Mai 2026
It has been another busy and positive week here at school, with lots of opportunities for our students to learn, achieve and get involved in school life. It has been wonderful to see students continuing to demonstrate commitment, resilience and enthusiasm in all that they do, both in and out of the classroom.
We are always proud of the strong sense of community within our school, and this week has been no exception, with students, staff and families coming together to support and celebrate a wide range of experiences.
As always, thank you for your continued support. We hope you enjoy reading this week’s Blog.
Year 11 Achievement Ceremony
This afternoon, we were delighted to come together with students, staff and parents to celebrate our Year 11 Achievement Ceremony — an important milestone as our students reach a key stage in their journey.
This is a moment where they begin to make decisions about their future pathways, with many choosing to continue their studies at Castell Alun Sixth Form, while others move on to pursue different and equally exciting opportunities.
The ceremony provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on the hard work, commitment and growth shown by our Year 11 students throughout their time with us. As they now approach the final stage of their school journey and prepare for their upcoming examinations, we are incredibly proud of all they have achieved.
We also greatly value the strong partnership we share with parents and carers, whose ongoing support plays a vital role in students’ success. It was wonderful to celebrate together and recognise the achievements of this fantastic year group as they look ahead to the next chapter of their futures.
Castell Alun Achieves the CyberFirst Silver Award
We are delighted to announce that our school has successfully achieved the CyberFirst Silver Award, a nationally recognised accreditation from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This award recognises schools that are committed to delivering high-quality cyber security education and inspiring young people to develop vital digital and computing skills.
What is the CyberFirst Silver Award?
The CyberFirst programme is part of the UK Government’s strategy to strengthen cyber security skills across the country. The Silver Award recognises schools that:
Deliver a structured and progressive computing curriculum
Teach cyber security concepts across Years 7-9
Encourage pupils to think critically about online safety, digital responsibility and security
Promote pathways into GCSE Computer Science, Digital Technology and future careers in cyber
Achieving Silver status shows that our curriculum goes beyond basic ICT skills and actively prepares learners for the increasingly digital world.
What This Means for Our Students
Through our Computer Science lessons in Years 7–9, pupils develop a strong foundation in both computer science and cyber security. This includes learning about:
Computer Science topics such as:
Algorithms and problem solving
Programming and computational thinking
Data representation and computer systems
Cyber security topics such as:
Staying safe online and managing digital identities
Understanding cyber threats, malware and phishing
Protecting systems, networks and personal data
These skills not only support pupils who go on to study GCSE Computer Science or GCSE Digital Technology, but are essential life skills for all young people.
Cyber security is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the UK, with a growing demand for skilled professionals. By embedding cyber awareness throughout the curriculum, we are helping pupils to:
Become responsible and resilient digital citizens
Understand real-world risks and how to stay safe online
Explore future STEM and cyber-related career pathways
The CyberFirst Silver Award confirms that our learners are receiving an education that is relevant, modern and forward-looking.
This award reflects the hard work and commitment of staff across the school to continually improve our digital provision. It also recognises the enthusiasm and engagement of our pupils, who have shown curiosity, creativity and responsibility in their use of technology. We are extremely proud of this achievement and look forward to continuing to build on this success as we further strengthen our computing and cyber curriculum.
Primary Hockey Festival
On Friday, we were delighted to welcome primary school students to our annual hockey festival, which was a fantastic celebration of sport, teamwork and enjoyment. It was wonderful to see so many young players taking part with enthusiasm and determination throughout the day.
Congratulations to Ysgol Derwen for being crowned winners, with Ysgol Penyffordd finishing as worthy runners-up. A special thank you also goes to our Year 7, 8 and 9 hockey players, who did an excellent job refereeing and organising the games — demonstrating great leadership and supporting the smooth running of the event.
We are incredibly proud of our strong relationships with our primary schools and the transition events we offer, which help make the move to high school more seamless and supportive for all students.
Success in the UK Chemistry Olympiad
We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of our students who recently took part in the prestigious UK Chemistry Olympiad, an annual competition run by the Royal Society of Chemistry.
This is a highly challenging competition that goes well beyond the A Level specification, requiring students to apply their knowledge in unfamiliar and demanding contexts.
We are very proud to share that the following students were awarded certificates:
Bronze
Spencer Wilmott Bright
Jeslyne Simiyon
William Barron
Silver
Elin-Kate Whybro
This is an outstanding accomplishment, and all students should be extremely proud of their success in such a rigorous competition.
Get Ready to Rock the Stage!
Our upcoming production of School of Rock is fast approaching, and excitement is building across the school. Based on the hit movie, the show follows the story of Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star who poses as a substitute teacher and transforms a class of students into an incredible rock band.
Packed with energy, humour and fantastic live music, it’s a feel-good show that celebrates confidence, teamwork and the power of self-belief.
Our talented cast and dedicated crew have been working incredibly hard in rehearsals, showing real commitment and enthusiasm to bring this high-energy production to life. Performances will take place on 7th, 8th and 9th July, starting at 7:00pm each evening, and promise to be a fantastic showcase of our students’ musical and dramatic talents.
Tickets will go on sale on 13/05/26 at 8:00am, so be sure to secure yours early. We look forward to seeing you there for what is set to be an unforgettable show.
Lost Property
Here are photos of this week’s lost property. Students should speak to their group tutor to arrange collection during registration or at another suitable time during the school day. At the end of each half term, any unclaimed items will be donated to charity.
In Closing
As we come to the end of another successful week, we would like to thank you for your continued support of our school community. It is always a pleasure to share and celebrate the many achievements of our students.
We hope everyone enjoys a well-earned break over the long weekend and takes the opportunity to rest and recharge.
Mwynhewch benwythnos hir braf – have a wonderful long bank holiday weekend.
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.
