Campus Closure and Industrial Action
Welcome to the School Blog. This week has felt quite unusual, with the campus closing to students on Wednesday due to industrial action. We sincerely appreciate your patience and remain genuinely hopeful that the current dispute will resolve soon. Should this not happen, further information will follow about subsequent planned strike days.
Year 11 Mock Examination Results Day
This morning, our Year 11 students participated in a ‘mock examination results day’. This marks the first time we’ve run such an event at Castell Alun. Our aim is to simulate the real day in August, giving students a true sense of how they might feel when receiving their grades. Naturally, some students felt disappointed today, while others were very pleased. Those who have not yet met their desired standard can now use today’s experience to fuel their drive to improve in certain subjects.
Any Year 11 students absent today can collect their results envelope from the Examination Office at school on Monday morning. Furthermore, as mentioned in this School Blog last week, our Sixth Form Open Evening was incredibly well-supported, and we will now run option talks during registration for all interested Year 11 students leading up to half-term.
Fundraising Success for Hope House
This week, we welcomed Nicola Eyes from Hope House to receive the cheque for the money raised at our Christmas Market. Year 10 students Luca, Louie, Sam, Will, and Evan, who raffled the signed Wrexham Football Club shirt, raised £500. In total, our students raised an impressive £3526 for Hope House, honing their creative, marketing, and teamwork skills in the process.
Marketing Campaign Project in Sixth Form
As part of their Level 3 qualification, Sixth Form Business students must create a marketing campaign. We were thrilled this week to host guest speaker Nadia McKane, Marketing Director for Platts Agriculture Limited, who inspired our students with an informative talk about her role. Nadia also set a scenario task: to create a marketing campaign for a new brand of clothing aimed at farmers aged 17 to 25 years. Our students developed innovative and creative ideas, implementing the knowledge gained from the presentation. We are truly grateful for Nadia’s input, and our students enjoyed working with a fantastic local business that actively assists them in understanding real-world business.
Upcoming Events and Activities
Christmas now feels like a distant memory. However, last month, Year 7 students enjoyed their annual trip to see the panto at Theatre Clwyd, a long-standing tradition at Castell Alun. The students were thrilled by an outstanding performance of ‘Robin Hood: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto’. They enthusiastically participated throughout the performance and demonstrated exemplary behaviour. As you may remember, we had to postpone our planned Christmas concert due to illness. We have now rescheduled it as an ‘Expressive Arts Concert’ for Thursday, 9th February. A great deal of talent will be showcased, and tickets are available from school at a cost of £3. We would love to see you all!
Promoting Bilingualism and Cultural Pride
Developing bilingualism across our school continues to be one of our main priorities. To further this goal, we have established a Welsh Student Council. The students meet regularly with Mrs. Wareing, and together, students and staff discuss ways to enhance our cultural provision and pride in our nation. The Welsh Student Council is currently organising St. David’s Day events—more news to follow!
Support from the Castell Alun Friends Association
It would be remiss of us not to mention once again the Castell Alun Friends Association. Please remember that everyone is welcome to attend their next meeting on Tuesday, 7th February, at 6:30 pm at Castell Alun. This wonderful group of committed school friends is always keen to add new members to their ranks.
Sporting Achievements and Literary Interests
Our students continue to love participating in various sports, and it’s interesting to note that the new library stock of books on ultimate football heroes has flown off the shelves recently. Congratulations to our Year 8 football team, who made it through to the quarter-finals of the Welsh Cup after winning on penalties against Y Moelwyn this week. Come on, lads—let’s go all the way again this year! Well done also to Nell, Ruby, Issy (Year 11), Sophie (Year 10), and Alex and Ffion (Year 9), who represented NE Wales in the Welsh Intercounties netball tournament this week. Special congratulations to Ruby, who won the U16s player of the tournament award. Best of luck to Tom (Year 11), who will represent RGC U18s facing Cardiff Pathway this weekend.
See you back here soon for the next School Blog!
