6 Tachwedd 2026
Welcome back to another edition of our School Blog! It’s been a fantastic first week back following the half-term break, with plenty of exciting opportunities and achievements to celebrate. This week, we shine a spotlight on our budding engineers working alongside Airbus, celebrate the creativity of our National Poetry Day winners and share some outstanding sporting achievements from our talented students. From engineering challenges and creative writing to representing their country on the international sporting stage, there is certainly plenty to be proud of at Castell Alun!
Future Engineers Take Flight
Our Year 9 students have been thoroughly enjoying their involvement in the Airbus Future Engineers Programme, an exciting opportunity to work alongside professional engineers and gain first-hand experience of the world of engineering.
The programme began with students learning about Airbus, the importance of health and safety, and the skills needed to work effectively as a team. They were quickly put to the test with the ‘Tower of Chocolate’ challenge, using creativity, problem-solving and teamwork to design and construct a successful structure.
Since then, students have been exploring the theory of flight and aerodynamics, learning how aircraft fly and how wing design influences performance. Working closely with their Airbus mentors, they have been designing and building their own model aircraft, putting their developing engineering knowledge into practice.
Throughout the sessions, students have been encouraged to think like engineers: making design decisions, solving problems, communicating ideas and evaluating their work. These are invaluable skills that extend far beyond engineering and will support them in their future learning and careers.
There is still so much to look forward to, including testing their aircraft, exploring hydraulic systems, investigating materials and structures, and learning more about the exciting career opportunities available within the aerospace industry.
Our students are thoroughly enjoying every minute of the experience, and it has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm, confidence and curiosity develop.
A huge thank you to the fantastic team of Airbus engineers and mentors who are giving their time, expertise and enthusiasm to support our students. Their encouragement and commitment are making this such a valuable and memorable experience, inspiring what we hope will be some of our engineers of the future!
We are incredibly grateful to Airbus for this fantastic partnership and look forward to seeing what our young engineers achieve next!
Poetry Day Stars
A huge congratulations to Claudia and Eleanor in Year 8, who have been named our National Poetry Day winners!
Claudia wrote a beautiful and inspiring poem entitled ‘Wonder’, reflecting her dream of one day publishing her very own book.
Eleanor impressed us with her poem ‘Weather’, creatively capturing the trials and tribulations of the ever-changing British weather!
We are really proud of both girls for their creativity, imagination and wonderful writing skills.
Da iawn, Claudia and Eleanor!
Hallie’s Ice Hockey Triumph
We are incredibly proud to share the fantastic news that Year 8 student Hallie has been selected to represent England at the prestigious Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament in Canada this February!
This is an outstanding achievement, with the tournament recognised as one of the biggest and most prestigious youth ice hockey competitions in the world. To make the occasion even more special, Hallie’s younger sister, Savannah, has also been selected, meaning the sisters will have the amazing opportunity to compete together on the international stage!
Hallie’s success is a testament to her dedication, determination and hard work. Her commitment to the sport is remarkable, with her training week beginning at 5.30am on a Monday morning, completing an hour and a half of ice practice before even arriving at school!
Representing England in Canada is a fantastic opportunity for both girls, but it also comes with significant costs, with the family needing to raise approximately £3,000–£4,000 for each child to attend.
If anyone would like to support Hallie and Savannah on their journey, the family has set up a fundraising page. Every contribution, however small, would be greatly appreciated.
Support their journey here: Hallie and Savannah’s fundraiser.
Everyone at Castell Alun wishes Hallie and Savannah the very best of luck. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to hearing all about their Canadian adventure!
Ella’s Football Success
A huge well done to Ella, who was selected to represent the FAW Cymru U16 squad in a match against Birmingham last weekend!
With the team trailing 3–1 at half-time, Ella stepped into goal for the second half and helped the team fight back to secure an exciting 4–4 draw!
What a fantastic experience and achievement! We wish Ella continued success in her football journey.
Da iawn, Ella!
GCSE Artwork Collection Reminder
We would like to remind former GCSE Art and Design students that coursework from last academic year is now available to collect from the Art Department.
If you would like to collect your work, please contact the school office to arrange a convenient time.
Due to limited storage space, all coursework must be collected by Tuesday 15th December 2026.
Upcoming Events
CAFA Sound Bath Evening — Tuesday 17 November
A calming, restorative sound bath at Castell Alun High School, 6.30pm–8.00pm. Tickets are £15 per person.
CAFA Liverpool Christmas Market — Saturday 21 November
Join CAFA for a festive coach trip to Liverpool Christmas Market. Tickets are £15 per person, with local pickup points and a return coach journey.
CAFA Christmas Wreath Workshop — Saturday 28 November
Make your own festive wreath at Castell Alun High School, 9.00am–11.00am. Tickets are £35 per person and include all materials.
Lost Property
Please find below photographs of this week’s lost property items. We hope that sharing these photographs will help students and parents identify and reclaim any missing belongings.
The photographs will also be shared on Google Classroom for students to check. If students recognise any of their belongings, they 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 remaining unclaimed items will be donated to charity.
In Closing
As we come to the end of another busy week, we would like to congratulate all the students featured in this week’s School Blog. Their achievements reflect the creativity, determination and enthusiasm that make our school community so special. We are incredibly proud of the opportunities our students are embracing, both in and beyond the classroom, and grateful to everyone who continues to support and inspire them.
We hope you all have a lovely, relaxing weekend and look forward to another exciting week ahead!
Penwythnos hyfryd i bawb!
Have a lovely weekend, everyone!
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.
