17 Gorffennaf 2025
Croeso
As we come to the end of another incredible year, we want to take a moment to reflect and celebrate the strength of our school community. This year has been filled with achievements, challenges, growth and countless moments that have shown the very best of who we are.
At the heart of everything we do are our core values: respect, determination and honesty. These values have guided us through every lesson, every event and every success. They are the foundation of the strong, supportive and thriving school community we are proud to be a part of.
This year’s success would not have been possible without each and every one of you – students, staff, families and supporters. Whether it’s the quiet determination to keep going, the respectful way we treat each other, or the honesty shown in how we learn and grow together, you have all played a vital role in making our school the vibrant, caring and ambitious place it is.
Thank you for everything you’ve contributed this year. Enjoy this final School Blog, and we look forward to even more success together in the year ahead.
Inspiring Future Engineers
Congratulations to Daisy, Jahiem, Kenzie and Leon, who recently took part in a fantastic opportunity through the Industrial Cadets Award. As part of their Bronze Industrial Cadetship, the students spent a week at Deeside College, working alongside professionals from Tata Steel to complete their qualification. The Industrial Cadets programme is a nationally recognised initiative that inspires young people to explore careers in STEM, particularly in fields like engineering. Feedback from both the college and Tata Steel was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the students’ strong practical skills, enthusiasm and potential. This was not only a brilliant way to recognise their hard work throughout the year, but also a valuable and inspiring experience that will no doubt support their future aspirations.
Year 12 Explore Berlin
In the early hours of 5th July, 27 Year 12 students studying History and RS, travelled to Berlin for an action packed itinerary, taking in many of the city’s historical and cultural highlights. Over four very busy days we certainly made the most of our time away. Staying in the former Eastern part of the city, our hotel was situated right next to the longest section of the Berlin wall that still stands in Germany’s capital. It was also conveniently located to make use of Germany’s efficient public transport network, which we made full use of as we explored the city and some of its many sights. Our educational visit led us to firstly the House of the Wannsee Villa, the site of the meeting to finalise the Final Solution, which was on the picturesque outskirts of Berlin.
Travelling back into the centre, we also took in many of the famous city landmarks, including the Brandenburg gates and the Reichstag Parliament building, which we toured, climbing to the very top of the stunning glass dome giving a panoramic view of the entire city. Over the next two days we also visited Sachsenhausen concentration camp, once an active working camp for political and asocial prisoners in Nazi Germany and now a preserved memorial, as well as the Topography of Terror, Check Point Charlie, the Jewish Memorial and the Jewish Museum. Our visit ended with a tour of the Olympic Stadium and some final shopping before leaving for home. After a very action packed few days in the Berlin heat, and only one torrential rain and thunder storm, Year 12 have returned for their summer break. Next Year’s trip will be launched in the Autumn term.
Cyber Empower Girls First Event
I am thrilled to share some exciting news about our remarkable students who recently participated in the Empower Cyber First Girls event held at Coleg Cambria. This initiative aims to encourage young girls to consider careers in technology and cybersecurity, fields that are increasingly vital in our modern world.
Five of our talented girls took part in a series of engaging activities, including an Enigma cypher challenge, a hackathon competition and a mock cyber crime trial. Each of these experiences was designed to spark interest and showcase the diverse opportunities available in the ‘tech industry’.
We are especially proud to announce that Liv excelled in the hackathon, securing first place in the competition! Her performance was a nail-biting affair, as she narrowly outscored a student from a neighbouring school by a mere 15 points. Da Iawn, Liv! This achievement reflects not only her hard work and dedication but also the potential of all our students to thrive in this dynamic field.
Additionally, the event featured guest speakers from prestigious companies such as Vodafone and Airbus, who shared valuable insights into their careers and the skills needed to succeed in the tech and cybersecurity sectors. Their stories were both inspiring and informative, providing our students with a glimpse of the exciting paths available to them.
Activities Week
As the term ends, our school has once again celebrated in style with a vibrant, enriching Activities Week. Students enjoyed thrilling zoo trips, tackled creative engineering challenges with Airbus, and built landing pads for aeroplanes. They also took part in insightful sessions on mental health and building positive relationships. The week truly offered something for everyone. Pupils embraced responsible fire-building, explored our local area through walks, and connected with Cenefyn’s history at Park In The Past. Sporty spirits shone in tennis, football and badminton. Expressive arts came to life through dance, acting and art and the Maths department hosted an array of strategy games. Students also developed their digital skills through animation and Minecraft.
Our school values—respect, determination, and honesty—shaped every moment of Activities Week. Students showed respect by engaging with workshop leaders, encouraging teammates during challenges, and valuing nature on walks and park visits. Pupils demonstrated determination by mastering dance routines, competing in table tennis, and carefully building fire pits and landing pads. Honesty emerged in open discussions on mental health and relationships. Students reflected on their experiences and feelings with sincerity. These values guided behaviour and strengthened our sense of community, making the week meaningful and memorable.
We thank our dedicated staff for their hard work and passion, and the guests who led inspiring workshops. A special thank you goes to Mrs Thomas, whose careful planning made this unforgettable week possible.
Y9 WBQ Summer Fair
A few weeks ago, our Year 9 (Blwyddyn 9) students took part in a dynamic Dragon’s Den‑style event. Here they pitched their creative business ideas to local business representatives. Fully engaged throughout, they received ardderchog (excellent) feedback and impressed the dragons with their confidence and presentation skills.
Today, Blwyddyn 9 continued their entrepreneurial journey by hosting a vibrant Summer Fayre. They showcased a range of products—from sunglasses and keyrings to fun games like ring toss and penalty shootouts. Pupils from Years 7, 8, and 10 came along to support the event, helping Year 9 raise funds. Da iawn, pawb! We’ll share the final total with you when we return in September.
All of our Year 9 students worked incredibly hard to put the event together. e’re so proud of their efforts. A big thank you to everyone who came along to support them, to the teachers who helped throughout the day, and especially to Mrs Thomas Mason for her fantastic organisation.
CAFA
We’d like to take a moment to shine a spotlight on the incredible work of CAFA – Castell Alun Friends Association. This dedicated group of volunteers gives so much of their time and energy to support our school community. Through a wide range of fundraising activities CAFA has raised vital funds that directly benefit our students. Their efforts have helped provide equipment, resources, and opportunities that make a real difference in daily school life. A heartfelt thank you goes to every member of CAFA for their hard work, creativity, and commitment. If you’d like to get involved and be part of this fantastic team, please don’t hesitate to contact the school.
Upcoming Events
We’d like to remind all students and families about this summer’s exam results arrangements.
📌 GCE Results Day – Thursday 14th August
Students in Year 12 and Year 13 can collect results at school between 8:00am and 10:00am. After 10:00am, results will be sent directly to students’ Castell Alun email accounts.
📌 GCSE Results Day – Thursday 21st August
Students in Year 11 can collect results at school between 8:00am and 10:00am. After 10:00am, results will be sent to their Castell Alun email accounts.
Year 10 results will be sent directly to students’ Castell Alun email accounts by 9:00am. These results will not be available for collection at school.
If you have any questions about results days, please contact the school office.
Best of luck to all our students — we are proud of your hard work!
You can see our full range of upcoming events by heading over to our Events Calendar page.
In Closing
As we wrap up this final Blog of the year, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to every member of our school community. To our students, families, staff, governors and the many friends and partners who support us—you have all contributed to making this year a truly special one. Your commitment, collaboration and belief in what we do have been the driving force behind our success. In every trip, achievement, challenge and celebration, it’s clear that when we come together, we accomplish great things. Wishing you all a restful, joyful summer—see you in September, ready for another inspiring year ahead.
Diolch yn fawr i bawb am flwyddyn wych. Mwynhewch yr haf – gwelwn ni chi ym mis Medi!
Thank you all for a fantastic year. Enjoy the summer – we’ll see you in September!
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.
