School Blog (25/06/21)


Welcome to the School Blog. As June gradually draws to a close, our thoughts turn to students and staff moving on to new opportunities over the summer. Although this can be a sad time for us, it is tremendously exciting for many, and we wish everyone well for the future. We will bid farewell to several colleagues and will share more information about this in the next couple of weeks. Rest assured, the future of our school is in exceptionally good hands, and we met successful applicants for roles during our new staff Induction Day today.

Our library of welcoming resources is now available on the school website for all families of Year 6 students to view. We are thrilled about you joining us. Even though times are somewhat different at present and our new build is ongoing, we hope you enjoy the video introducing the school and our online FAQ. Some colleagues have already visited local primary schools, with further visits planned over the coming weeks.

Next week, we will simulate a fire drill rehearsal to ensure that all students fully understand our procedures in the event of a real fire. This is simply a fire practice, so you might want to inform students in advance to avoid any possible anxiety.

A small number of students in examination classes have requested their Decision Making Record. After receipt of the Decision Making Record, they have five days to request a Centre Review and Appeals Form. The form needs to be completed and returned no later than 5th July 2021 at 12 pm.

We are always keen to celebrate the successes of our students, and here is a particularly exciting one! Holly (Year 13) studied Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry in the Sixth Form after joining us from a neighbouring secondary school. She recently completed an in-depth investigation into the role of women in STEM workplaces and secured five offers to study Chemistry at prestigious universities. However, Holly also pursued the Higher Apprenticeship route and, after a rigorous interview process, received offers for two Apprenticeships at British Nuclear Fuel and AstraZeneca, both supported by high-profile degree programmes. She now faces an incredibly difficult decision! We are immensely proud of Holly, and there are many other similar stories we could undoubtedly share.

Congratulations to India-Bo (Year 7), who has been selected for the North Wales Girls’ Football Academy. Inspired by our ladies’ and men’s Wales teams, India-Bo clearly has a bright future ahead of her. Well done, India-Bo!

This weekend, a group of Year 11 and 12 Castell Alun students will undertake a Duke of Edinburgh Silver Expedition, considering all COVID mitigations, of course. We hope everyone has a great time and lots of fun in a safe but challenging environment. We look forward updating you again in next week’s School Blog!

This weekend promises to be exciting for our nation in sport. We will all be right behind the British and Irish Lions (with such a strong Welsh contingent) and, of course, the Welsh Men’s Football Team as we face Denmark on Saturday at 5 pm. I hope it is a great weekend for everyone!