15 Mai 2026
Welcome to this week’s School Blog!
This week has marked the beginning of the external examination season for our Year 10, Year 12 and Year 13 students. As they embark on this important stage of their educational journey, we would like to wish them every success.
We are incredibly proud of the commitment, resilience and hard work they have shown in preparing for their examinations, and we know they will approach them with determination and confidence.
Alongside the start of exams, it has also been another exciting and successful week at Castell Alun, with students continuing to excel both within and beyond the classroom. From outstanding Performing Arts showcases to achievements on the West End stage and preparations for hosting Flintshire Pride, there has been much to celebrate across our school community.
Year 10 BTEC Performing Arts
This week saw our talented Year 10 BTEC Performing Arts students step into the spotlight for their assessed performances, showcasing the culmination of months of dedication, creativity and hard work.
On Monday 11th May, students performed to an audience of friends and family, followed by a second performance on Tuesday 12th May for an enthusiastic audience of Year 8 students.
Both performances reflected not only the students’ growing confidence, but also the impressive diversity of work within the BTEC Performing Arts course.
Audiences were treated to two contrasting pieces. One group performed an extract from Dancing at Lughnasa, bringing sensitivity and depth to the characters and themes of the play.
In contrast, the second group showcased extracts from Little Shop of Horrors, delivering high-energy musical theatre with engaging characterisation and strong ensemble work.
The contrast between these pieces highlighted the breadth of skills our students develop, from naturalistic acting to stylised, performance-driven theatre.
These performances were the result of an intensive rehearsal process. Over the past weeks, students have taken part in focused rehearsals, as well as technical and dress rehearsals, learning how to refine their work, respond to feedback and adapt to live performance conditions.
They have also gained valuable experience working with technical elements such as staging, lighting, sound and costume — an essential part of preparing for a professional standard performance.
What has been most rewarding to see is the transformation in these students over the past nine months. Many have grown significantly in confidence, developing their ability to perform in front of an audience, collaborate effectively with others and take creative risks.
The progress from tentative early rehearsals to assured performances on stage has been remarkable.
The feedback from both audiences was incredibly positive, and students should be very proud of what they have achieved.
We now look ahead with excitement to Year 11, where students will continue to build on these skills as they prepare for their next practical performances. If this week’s work is anything to go by, the future is very bright for this cohort of performers.
Building a Love of Reading Together
This week marked an exciting new chapter for our school library community. After receiving lots of applications to join the Library Society, members were selected on Monday, and the committee held its first meeting this week.
The meeting was full of discussion, enthusiasm and creative ideas.
Students shared plans for:
promoting reading across the school,
introducing exciting reading challenges,
refreshing and improving the library space, and much more.
Members also had the opportunity to upskill themselves by learning how to prepare new books for the shelves, helping ensure they are ready for students to enjoy.
A huge thank you to the community library team for their generous book donations.
We are looking forward to seeing all the wonderful initiatives our Library Society will bring to the school this year.
Castell Alun to Host Flintshire Pride
Castell Alun High School will host the Flintshire Pride Event on 30th June. Students from secondary schools across Flintshire will come together for a day of celebration, promoting diversity, inclusion and equality.
The event will provide opportunities to raise awareness, build understanding, and celebrate the importance of being proud of who you are within a supportive community.
Castell Alun Students Star on the West End Stage
We are incredibly proud to celebrate the achievements of three talented Castell Alun students who performed at the prestigious Shaftesbury Theatre in London’s West End on Sunday 3rd May.
Phoebe
Rose
Ffion
All three students successfully auditioned to take part in the performance through their Stagecoach Performing Arts school — a fantastic achievement in itself.
During the show, Phoebe performed Speakeasy Swing, while Rose and Ffion performed Material Girls. Each performance was delivered with confidence, energy and professionalism, making them a true credit to both their Stagecoach school and Castell Alun.
It is also exciting to note that Rose and Phoebe will be taking to the stage again this July in School of Rock, continuing to build on their impressive performance experience.
At Castell Alun, we are proud to support and celebrate our students’ achievements beyond the classroom. With performances on the West End stage, these students truly embody the spirit of aspiring performers — we really are home to future (and current!) West End stars!
Da iawn chi gyd — we are so proud of you!
Sporting Successes
Llongyfarchiadau to Year 11 student Ruben, who recently represented the Wales U16 Schoolboys football team in their match against England.
To make the achievement even more special, Ruben and his teammates secured an impressive 2–0 victory.
Da iawn, Ruben — we are incredibly proud of you!
A huge congratulations to our Year 11 boys who recently represented Flintshire Schoolboys in the Inter-Association Football Final against Cardiff.
After a closely contested match, the team were narrowly defeated 6–5 on penalties.
A special well done to: Ruben, Jack, Ollie, Alex, Fin and Josh.
You should all be incredibly proud of your achievement and the way you represented both Flintshire and Castell Alun.
Da iawn, boys!
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 we come to the end of another busy and successful week at Castell Alun, we would like to thank our students, staff, families and wider community for their continued support.
It has been wonderful to celebrate so many achievements across Performing Arts, sport and our wider school community, while also supporting our examination students as they begin this important period.
We look forward to sharing more successes and memorable moments with you in the weeks ahead.
Diolch am eich cefnogaeth barhaus. Dymunwn penwythnos braf a diogel i chi gyd.
Thank you for your continued support. We wish you all a safe and enjoyable 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.
