Friday 21st June 2019


What a great night we had yesterday at the Year 11 Leavers’ Prom. Our students were a credit to the school and I don’t think I’ve ever seen dance moves quite like that before! It was truly a memorable occasion for everyone and marked a five year journey appropriately, before the majority of students return to join our Sixth Form. Thank-you to parents and carers, staff and students for all of your hard work and support in making this event so fantastic.

The Prom Gallery 2019 is available here.

CAFA members have been working really hard to continue to raise funds for our school, and our Friends Association has recently donated £600 towards the purchase of camcorders for the recording of English examination class assessments. This is indeed timely as Year 10 English students are currently undertaking individual presentations all week. Well done CAFA and our grateful thanks!

Year 12 Diploma in Criminology students were treated to something a little different this week. The students thoroughly enjoyed the forensic science elements of their course, undertaken in a way I can only describe as resembling a CSI TV programme. Students are required to learn the methods and approaches used by all the professionals involved in a crime scene, and it is cleaer that the practical elements of the course are relished by the students and help them develop a greater appreciation of the skills required in each role.

We are absolutely delighted to tell everyone that Mary, one of our faithful caretaking team, completed forty years of uninterrupted service to Castell Alun this week. Mary is an absolute superstar and we are all very fond of her because she never fails to put a smile on faces. Mary, don’t stop now, we’ll need you for at least another forty please!

Year 9 students performed well in their CATs tests on Monday and all of our Year 10 students worked hard on their Global Citizenship Challenge for the Welsh Baccalaureate at the start of the week also. On Wednesday 55 Year 10 students undertook a Geography field trip, and the weather just about held for them. Well done also to the small group of Year 8 and 9 girls who went on our STEM trip to Warwick Chemicals during the week.

Congratulations to our Year 8 boys who became Champions of North East Wales in the most recent round of Welsh Schools’ Athletics competitions, and a big well done also to the Year 10 boys who were runners up at the same event. In rugby, 14 of our Year 9 boys represented North East Wales this week in a superb victory over schools in Denbighshire, and many lads have staked their claim to a place in the North Wales team in future. Well done to our KS3 Cheerleading squad who won the Flintshire schools competition this week, and as always many thanks to Holly (Year 13) for coaching our team. All the very best girls for your big competition in Manchester on Sunday. We know you can do it! Finally on a sporting theme, our Key Stage 3 boys and girls were victorious in their 5×60 tennis tournament this week – great job everyone!

Late tonight a number of our Year 10 and a few Year 11 students embark upon their study trip to France and Germany. All kinds of fun activities are planned and we are hopeful that the weather will be very kind to you. We can’t wait to hear all about it upon your return.

Looking to next week, we are excited about the visits of lots of children in Year 6 as they join us for Science and Technology transition activities. You will all soon become part of the Castell Alun family and we are certain that you will be really happy here and achieve to the best of your potential. On a similar note, we eagerly anticipate the visit of a number of Year 11 students from other schools on Tuesday, who will be joining our Sixth Form from September. Also on Tuesday our entire Year 10 will go on a sponsored walk down to the area

of natural beauty surrounding Hope Quarry, an area in which many of them will work at the end of the year as part of their Welsh Baccalaureate Community Challenge.

Rehearsals are now well underway for our ‘Night at the Musicals’ concert at 7pm on Thursday. There will be a wealth of talent on show so please don’t miss out….. purchase your tickets in advance from Mrs. Jan Southwell in the school office at a price of £5 to include refreshments and a programme.

On Friday a number of our Year 12 students leave for their study trip to Germany/Poland and, although due to the unearthly hour of your departure, we probably won’t turn out in number to see you off, we wish you all the very best. This has been a trip which we have run many times before and it always proves to be educational, insightful, thought-provoking, and of course good fun.

Also on Friday next week, all girls in Year 7 will be treated to a STEM day run by members of the RAF in our school hall. I know that lots of you are excited about the opportunity to develop your skills in science, technology, engineering and maths further, through the great variety of activities and challenges that you will face.

Have a lovely weekend!