5 Mehefin 2026
Welcome to this week’s School Blog. As we move into another busy half term, we are delighted to share some of the many achievements, opportunities and events taking place across our school community.
This week we celebrate our Careers Wales Gold Award accreditation, recognise the outstanding success of Hallie in ice hockey, wish our netball tour squad the very best as they head to Condover Hall, and highlight the important water safety messages being shared with students through Drowning Prevention Week.
We also extend our sincere thanks to the Castell Alun Friends Association for their continued support and fundraising efforts, which make such a positive difference to the experiences of our students.
Careers Wales Quality Award
We are delighted to announce that Castell Alun High School has successfully completed the final stage of the Careers Wales Quality Award pilot and has achieved the prestigious Gold Award.
The Careers Wales Quality Award supports schools in developing purposeful and relevant Careers and Work-Related Experiences (CWRE) across the curriculum for learners aged 3–16. The award consists of three stages, each focusing on different aspects of CWRE provision.
To achieve the Gold Award, schools are required to demonstrate the leadership, development and impact of their careers and work-related learning provision.
This achievement reflects our commitment to ensuring that all learners are equipped with the knowledge, skills and experiences they need to make informed decisions about their futures and to develop as ambitious, capable learners ready for the world of work.
A special thank you and congratulations must go to Miss Lauren Robinson, whose passion, dedication and leadership have been instrumental in securing this award.
We are incredibly proud to have achieved the Gold Award and to be recognised for delivering high-quality careers and work-related experiences for our learners.
You can find out more about the Careers Wales Quality Award here.
Drowning Prevention Week 2026
As we approach the summer months, we would like to support Drowning Prevention Week 2026, a national campaign led by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) and supported locally by Gwella.
Running from 13–20 June, the campaign aims to raise awareness of water safety and help children, young people and families stay safe in and around water.
This message is particularly important following several tragic water-related incidents reported across the UK and the concerning rise in drowning incidents involving teenagers.
Next week, water safety will be our DACW theme, and students in Years 7–10 will take part in lessons focused on water safety as part of their PSHE programme.
Whilst learning to swim is an important life skill, understanding the Water Safety Code, recognising risks around open water and knowing what to do in an emergency are equally vital.
Families can access free resources and guidance through the Royal Life Saving Society UK and Gwella websites, and interested students can also explore the Junior Rookie Lifeguard Programme.
CAFA
A huge thank you to the Castell Alun Friends Association (CAFA) for their continued dedication and support of our school community.
Through the organisation of events and fundraising activities, CAFA raises valuable funds that directly benefit our students and enrich their experiences at Castell Alun.
We are incredibly grateful for the time, energy and commitment that the volunteers give to support the school.
Coming up this term, CAFA is hosting a relaxing Sound Bath on Tuesday 9th July and a Fashion Show on Thursday 3rd July.
Tickets for both events must be purchased in advance and can be found here.
Your support makes a real difference and helps CAFA continue its invaluable work for our school.
Good Luck to Our Netball Tour Squad!
This weekend, we would like to wish the very best of luck to our students who are travelling to Condover Hall for their Netball Tour.
This promises to be a fantastic opportunity for our players to develop their skills, compete against other schools, build friendships and create lasting memories.
We know that they will represent Castell Alun with the same determination, teamwork and sportsmanship that they demonstrate on the court throughout the year.
Good luck to all involved — we look forward to hearing all about it when you return!
Hallie’s Ice Hockey Achievements
We are delighted to celebrate Hallie’s outstanding achievements in ice hockey this season.
Earlier this year, Hallie represented England U13 Girls at an international tournament in Czechia, helping the team secure a silver medal.
She made an immediate impact by scoring England’s first goal of the tournament just 20 seconds after stepping onto the ice, earned Player of the Match against Norwegian side Frisk Asker, and was selected as an Alternate Captain within the team’s leadership group.
Hallie’s success continued when she was selected amongst the top 10% of players nationally to attend the prestigious Draft Showcase, where her team remained undefeated and were crowned U12 champions.
She also helped the Deeside U14 Division 2 team become National Champions, finishing as the team’s second-highest points scorer despite playing above her age group.
During the May half-term break, Hallie competed with the Deeside U16 Girls team at the National Championships in Sheffield, adding another fantastic experience to what has already been a remarkable season.
Everyone at Castell Alun is incredibly proud of her achievements and dedication, and we look forward to following her continued success on the ice.
Lost Property Gallery
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.
Upcoming
In Closing
As always, thank you for your continued support of Castell Alun High School.
We are incredibly proud of the achievements of our students and grateful for the dedication of our staff, families, governors and wider community who work together to help our young people thrive.
We hope you enjoyed reading this week’s updates and encourage you to support the upcoming events taking place over the coming weeks.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Diolch yn fawr am eich cefnogaeth barhaus.
Thank you for your continued support.
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.
