Friday 8th November 2019


I trust you all enjoyed the time with your children over the half term break.

On the final day of our last half term, our Trinity School dancers put on a great evening show while being examined in Musical Theatre or Speech/Drama. Congratulations to all our Performing Arts students who passed their first exam with Trinity Guildhall College London, receiving excellent marks and wonderful reports from the visiting examiner. A further 14 students will be taking their first Trinity exam shortly. We are very proud of you all.

Our school library launched the ‘Snuggle up with a book this Winter’ campaign, in partnership with the English Learning Area. We want people of all ages to re-discover the joy of taking time to lose themselves in a relaxing read! This brings all kind of benefits both academically and also with regard to personal well-being.

On Monday our Year 12 Biologists went on a study trip to Chester Zoo and attended a ‘Conservation Genetics’ talk delivered by zoo experts. Students had the opportunity to learn how progress in genetic techniques is allowing scientists to identify species, resolve human wildlife conflicts and combat the illegal trafficking of endangered species

The ‘Crucial Crew’ visited school again on Wednesday. All of our Year 7 students were instructed on how to remain safe by key organisations such as: the Fire Service, the Food Standards Agency, the Police, St. John’s Ambulance, the British Transport Police, the RNLI, the Dogs’ Trust and various medical professional advisory bodies. Our students showed great enthusiasm during each session and we are indebted to our many visitors whose sound advice will remain with our students for years to come.

On Tuesday our Year 13 Art students had a great time at the galleries in Liverpool and were able to marvel at the remarkable and varied techniques on display.

Our Year 8 ‘Reader Leader’ students were treated to a cinema trip as their reward on Thursday morning. These are the students who have had the most positive attitude to reading in their literacy lessons over the past 8 weeks. Well done everyone – I know you loved ‘Men in Black International’! Also on Thursday some of our Year 7 students had the opportunity to go and watch Manchester Utd convincingly win their Europa League match against Partisan Belgrade at Old Trafford.

Today I visited the Willows Playing Fields with Dan and Megan (both Year 9) for the unveiling of a ‘Centenary Fields Plaque’. Landowners across the UK have been encouraged to dedicate playing fields and recreation grounds, memorial gardens and parks as we remember those lost in World War 1 specifically. On Monday we will hold our School Remembrance Assembly and will be joined by members of our Governing Body to mark the occasion.

Tickets are now on sale (@castellalun) for the Castell Alun Friends’ Association Manchester Christmas Market Trip on Saturday 16th November. Under 16s are welcome to come along but please be aware this is not a school supervised trip so students would need to be accompanied by an adult. Furthermore, if you are looking for beautiful and unique gifts this Christmas, we invite you to the Festive Fair, for an evening of luxury, pampering, entertainment and shopping at Castell Alun on Friday 29th November from 6:30pm-9:30pm. Tickets are a bargain at £2.50. We are so thankful for the work of our friends at CAFA.

As we look to next week, Drama Club students from all years will be invited to attend a professional performance of ‘Dr. Faustus’ in the School Hall on Wednesday. On Thursday it is, of course, Year 13 Parents’ Evening and parents / carers are invited to join us from 4pm in order to build further our successful partnerships and consider how we may ensure that our students reach their potential before they move on to even greater things. Friday sees us support ‘Children in Need’ and Alder Hey hospital once again with a whole school non-uniform day.

Have a nice weekend.