School Blog

Welcome to the Castell Alun High School Blog At Castell Alun, we are proud to see our students living out our values of respect, determination and honesty in everything they do. This week, our students have shown great enthusiasm and commitment in a variety of activities, from celebrating bilingualism and […]

Welcome to the Castell Alun High School Blog This week at Castell Alun, our students have been involved in some incredible experiences that highlight their dedication, talents, and leadership. Year 12 and 13 students studying Cymraeg travelled to Glan-Llyn in Bala for the national Welsh second language course, where they […]

Welcome to the Castell Alun High School Blog This week brought a flurry of activity both online and on campus as heavy overnight snowfall temporarily closed the school on Tuesday. Students and teachers transitioned to online learning, and we apologise for any technical hitches which may have occurred.  A big […]

In this week’s School Blog we will be highlighting the work our school community does to help those in need. At Castell Alun, we are incredibly proud of our community’s commitment to making a positive difference through charity events and fundraising efforts. Guided by our core values of respect, determination […]

Welcome back! Welcome to the Castell Alun High School Blog. As we draw a close on our first week back after the October half term, we’d like to reflect on what has already been a memorable and meaningful start to this half term. This week, our school community gathered for […]

Last School Blog of this Half Term Welcome to the Castell Alun High School Blog. As we draw close to the half term, it’s a great time to reflect on the incredible progress we’ve made as a school community. This half term has been both productive and inspiring. We’ve seen […]

Welcome to the School Blog! We’re excited to share the success of our Shwmae Su’mae Day, where we celebrated bilingualism, raised funds for charity, and focused on financial awareness and wellbeing. Students explored the impact of alcohol, linking their learning to the Curriculum for Wales and promoting informed, healthy lifestyle […]

Croeso i Flog Yr Ysgol Welcome to the Castell Alun School Blog, where we proudly embrace and celebrate our rich Welsh culture! This week has been full of exciting activities highlighting our dedication to Cymraeg. From the first Cyngor Myfyrwyr Cymraeg meeting to various Welsh language and cultural initiatives, our […]

Autumn Harvest School Blog Welcome to our Autumn Harvest School Blog! As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisper, our school community is excited to share the activities, inspiration, and fun that capture the spirit of autumn.  Celebrating Harvest This week, our lower school assembly focused on […]

Reflecting on a Positive Start Welcome to this week’s School Blog! We’re excited to share the latest updates, achievements, and upcoming events from our vibrant school community. Open Evening and Morning Sessions Success: The school Open Evening and morning sessions were a great success, with strong attendance from prospective students and […]

Reflecting on a Positive Start Welcome to this week’s School Blog! It’s been a whirlwind of activity, and we’re proud of how busy and productive our school community has been. Our students and staff have truly embodied the spirit of hard work and collaboration. This is through engaging classroom lessons, […]

Reflecting on a Positive Start Welcome to the School Blog. As the first two weeks of the school year draw to a close, we want to take a moment to reflect on the positive start we’ve had as a school community. It’s heart-warming to see students arrive with enthusiasm and […]

A Warm Welcome to the First School Blog of New School Year Croeso cynnes i bawb wrth i ni gychwyn Tymor yr Hydref 2024. A very warm welcome to everyone as we begin our Autumn Term 2024. We trust you’ve enjoyed a wonderful summer and feel refreshed. We extend a […]

Final School Blog of the Academic Year Welcome to the final School Blog of the academic year. We have much to cover, but first, we want to bid a fond farewell to colleagues and friends embarking on new journeys. This includes those going on maternity leave, moving on to new […]

A Week of Reflection and Celebration Welcome to the School Blog. We begin this week on a somber note. Our former colleague, Miss Jo Britten (Geography), has sadly passed away after a long battle with illness. Miss Britten, who served as Subject Leader for Geography, always brought cheer to everyone […]

Weather and Uniform Update It seems the lovely weather has left us for now, but we want to ensure that all students feel comfortable in school. As a result, we have relaxed the necessity for wearing jumpers at present. Stay comfortable, everyone! Exam Season Ends The public examination period has […]

New Year 7 Welcome Day Welcome to the School Blog. What a delight it was on Wednesday to meet so many of our new Year 7 students for September. The sun shone all day, enhancing everyone’s experience as they explored our lessons, campus, and made new friends. We are confident […]

Countdown to the End of the Academic Year Welcome to the School Blog. With just five weeks remaining until the end of the academic year, there is still much to accomplish! New Intake Evening and Day On Tuesday, 25th June, we will hold our New Intake Evening for parents and […]

School Update: Exam Season and Upcoming Events Welcome to the School Blog. As we complete the first week after half term, school continues to buzz with activity, and our public examination season is now halfway through. We are pleased to report that students are arriving punctually for their exams, and […]

End of Half Term and Exam Updates Welcome to the School Blog. We have reached the end of one of our longest half terms, and the examination season is well underway. To date, students in Years 11, 12, and 13 have already completed some exams, and we are pleased to […]

Celebrating Success and Engagement at Castell Alun Welcome to the School Blog. Yesterday, it was lovely to see so many parents and carers of Year 7 students at our Parents’ Evening. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a talented and hard-working group of students who will undoubtedly continue to […]

A Busy Week at Castell Alun Welcome to the School Blog. The warmer weather is finally with us, and we can celebrate another busy week in the life of the school. Year 11 Achievement Ceremony Last Friday, it was wonderful to have Alice and Maisie, founders of ‘Sisters and Seekers,’ […]

Busy Times and Important Dates We are now over halfway through this half term, and the extended bank holiday weekend is just around the corner. This time of year is always incredibly busy, with older students and staff focusing intensely on the upcoming public examinations. We want to remind all […]

Examination Season and Achievement Ceremony Welcome to the School Blog. Our school examination season is now upon us, and we want to extend a big llongyfarchiadau to all students who have recently completed their oral examinations in language subjects. Standards have been high, and preparations have been impressive. We are […]

Busy Times and Exciting Achievements Welcome to the School Blog. Our new term is in full flow, and our older students have already started some of their examinations. We are pleased to report that oral examinations for Welsh and Modern Foreign Languages are well underway, and the majority of students […]

Welcome Back and Exciting News Welcome to the School Blog. We trust you have had a restful Easter holiday, despite the inclement weather. We have now embarked upon the beginning of our summer term, and things in school are back up to full speed! Focus on Examination Preparation Our immediate […]

A Busy Term and Easter Break Welcome to the School Blog. This term has certainly raced on, and we find ourselves on the final day already! Nevertheless, we feel that the term has been highly valuable. The Easter period offers a well-earned rest for students and staff alike. We firmly […]

Spring Success and Exciting News Welcome to the School Blog. Spring has arrived, and the days are gradually growing longer. Urdd Eisteddfod Triumph We are delighted to share that we achieved success once again at the Urdd District Eisteddfod/ Urdd Eisteddfod Rhanbarthol last Saturday. Our students had diligently prepared their […]

Welcome back! Welcome to the School Blog. It’s now two weeks since our previous School Blog, and a lot has been happening in and around school, particularly in our thriving Welsh department! St. David’s Day Celebrations Last Friday, we held our St. David’s Day assembly, led by the Welsh department […]

Curriculum for Wales Collaboration Welcome to the School Blog. On Monday, we held our Curriculum for Wales training day and were joined by colleagues from primary schools. It was fantastic to welcome these teachers to Castell Alun, ensuring that we all work together as we step into this new era […]

Snow Day Surprises and Exam Rescheduling Welcome to the School Blog. Yesterday brought an unexpected twist! As you may know, all Flintshire schools were informed that it would be a ‘snow day’ due to the weather forecast. This disrupted, but didn’t completely halt, our Year 10 school examinations. Please note, […]

Busy Days Before Half-Term Welcome to the School Blog. With just one week left until half-term, things have been incredibly busy here! This week, our English Year 11 students faced their oral exams. Staff feedback has been extremely positive. Di iawn to all students who prepared thoroughly for their sessions. […]

Sixth Form Open Evening Success Welcome to the School Blog. We have reached the midway point of the school year, having just hosted a highly successful Sixth Form Open Evening last night. A substantial number of families joined us, and each one attended a talk by Mr. Ellis, our Headteacher, […]

Winter’s End and Sporting Challenges Welcome to the School Blog. The cold spell appears to be coming to a close, though anything remains possible in a ‘typical’ British winter! The light snow and heavy frosts have disrupted various sporting fixtures for our students this week. We all eagerly anticipate warmer […]

Return to School and Winter Weather Welcome to the first School Blog of 2024! Everyone has returned to school after a well-needed break, and winter is upon us! Although it is noticeably colder than before Christmas, the temperatures could yet drop further over the coming weeks. We will use all […]

Final School Blog of the Year We would like to begin by thanking you all sincerely for the support this year. Students have made significant progress, and they, like us, are most grateful for the strong partnerships we have with all families. Long may this continue! Diolch yn fawr iawn. […]

Christmas Countdown As we start Advent and with fewer than three weeks remaining until we close for Christmas on Thursday, 21st December, the term is flying by! Much has been accomplished, but there’s still plenty to do. Talent Show Excitement On Wednesday morning, it felt like we had invited Simon […]

Advent and the Final Weeks of Term The term seems to be racing away as we find ourselves at the start of Advent, with fewer than three weeks to go until we close for Christmas on Thursday, 21st December! Much has been accomplished, yet there is still a great deal […]

Appreciation for Gideons and Mr. Mike Gershon We would like to express our appreciation to the Gideons, who visited our Year 7 assembly this week. Our friends from the Gideons spoke with genuine compassion to our students. They also left us with a number of New Testament Bibles, which include […]

Children in Need Day Today in school, we all participated in Children in Need Day in a variety of ways. All students enjoyed the general knowledge quiz during registration time. During periods 1 and 2, students in Years 7, 8, and 9 walked one mile around the school campus (the […]

Upper School Assembly and Black History Month Welcome to the School Blog. Welcome to the School Blog Today, we held our whole school Remembrance Assembly and were joined by several members of our Governing Body and Father Paul from Hope Church. The occasion was reflective and thought-provoking, and the respect […]

Upper School Assembly and Black History Month Welcome to the School Blog. We now have just two weeks left of this half term, and student progress and behaviour in school are commendable. This week, we held an upper school assembly to celebrate Black History Month. Diolch yn fawr to Logan, […]

Harvest Assembly On Tuesday this week, we held our Lower School Harvest Assembly. Diolch yn fawr to all the families of Year 7 students who kindly contributed groceries of all kinds, which will now be donated to our local food bank. In these challenging times, many families will undoubtedly appreciate […]

Open Evening Success Welcome to the School Blog Well, there’s only one place to start this morning, and that’s with our Open Evening gathering last night! The school was literally bursting at the seams between 6.30 pm and 8.30 pm as we welcomed an exceedingly large number of Year 6 […]

Lockdown Practice Success Welcome to the School Blog We faced unpredictable weather this week, and the school certainly feels full! However, students’ behaviour remains excellent. This was further evidenced during our lockdown practice and an unanticipated fire alarm practice just days later. The fire alarm, triggered by a faulty sensor, […]

Welcome! Welcome back to the School Blog, students, parents, and carers alike! We’ve completed our first full teaching week, and our Year 7 students, along with those who’ve transferred into Year 12, seem to have settled in remarkably well. You may have noticed some media headlines featuring Castell Alun in […]

Closing the Academic Year and Looking Ahead Welcome to the School Blog. We are disappointed to have to postpone today’s Sports Day due to poor weather. Student safety is our highest priority, but we understand the disappointment this decision brings to many. We are exploring the possibility of holding a […]

Welcoming New Year 7 Students and Celebrating Recent Activities Welcome to the School Blog. It’s been lovely to see more of our new Year 7 intake students over the past few days and to sense their joy and excitement about joining Castell Alun. Exciting School Trips This week has seen […]

New Beginnings and Exciting Adventures Welcome to the School Blog. This week has been all about new beginnings and embracing new challenges. Induction Evening and New Intake Day On Tuesday, we were thrilled to meet so many parents and carers of our new intake. The Sports Hall was full of […]

Final Exams, Achievements, and Upcoming Events Welcome to the School Blog. Today marks the final external examination for our GCSE and Sixth Form students, and we’re all thrilled that this day has finally arrived! We must credit our wonderful students for their mature approach during this demanding time. Modern Languages […]

End of Examination Period Welcome to the School Blog. As the public examination period nears its end, we congratulate our older students for their efforts, punctuality, and general approach during this challenging time. We are all grateful that only a few days remain until the exams are over! Uniform Adaptations […]

Welcoming Back Year 12 and Celebrating Achievements Welcome to the School Blog. It has been lovely to welcome back Year 12 after their examination leave. Well done to all our students for their efforts in AS Level and equivalent examinations. Today, many Year 12 students are in Liverpool attending a […]

End of Half Term Reflections and Celebrations Welcome to the School Blog. Today marks a significant occasion with our Year 13 Leavers’ Ceremony. This event is always a highlight of the school year, but today carries even more weight. Mr. Kevin Davies, our Assistant Headteacher and Director of Sixth Form […]

From Buckingham Palace to National Championships Welcome to the School Blog. This week began with a momentous occasion as some of our former students were presented with their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award at Buckingham Palace by the new Duke of Edinburgh. Mr. Kevin Davies was also invited in recognition […]

Commemorating the Coronation and Celebrating Student Success Welcome to the School Blog. In recognition of the Coronation, all students in school were given a commemorative pen this week, courtesy of CAFA. CAFA wanted to mark this historic day with a small, useful memento from which every student could benefit. In […]

Celebrating the Coronation Welcome to the School Blog. Many of us enjoyed the Bank Holiday last weekend, and of course, we will not be in school on Monday, 8th May, as this is another Bank Holiday for schools to celebrate King Charles’ Coronation. However, we are mindful that many of […]

End of April Update and Exciting Upcoming Events Welcome to the School Blog. As April draws to a close, our foreign language classes have nearly all completed their oral assessments. We would like to congratulate everyone on their efforts and performances in what can be a nerve-racking environment. Now, it’s […]

Post-Easter Update and Upcoming Events Welcome to the School Blog. We trust you have all managed to enjoy the Easter break and hope that the fine weather we had during the first week will return soon. School is very much back in session, and even this week, our Year 10 […]

Wrapping Up a Busy Term and Looking Forward to Easter Welcome to the School Blog. An extremely busy term concludes today, and although everyone is doubtless ready for a change of scenery, there is a great deal to be proud of since Christmas. Easter Assembly Celebration Easter is a special […]

Celebrating Achievements and Exciting Events Welcome to the School Blog. This week, we celebrated International Women’s Day with a Lower School Assembly on Wednesday. We were treated to a wonderful performance of We Are All Made of Stars by Lily (Year 7), who sang with great poise and confidence. Lily […]

Celebrating Achievements and Upcoming Events Welcome to the School Blog. It feels like an age ago already, even though it was just last week, that we celebrated our Dydd Gwyl Dewi Assembly. We are very grateful for the excellent readings and reports presented by Ewan, Megan, and Georgia (Year 11), […]

A Brief Edition of the School Blog As you know, this week has been exceptional due to Flintshire County Council’s decision to close all schools in anticipation of extreme weather conditions. We have remained closed today because of the snow that fell again overnight, creating treacherous travel and campus conditions. […]

School Update Amidst Industrial Action Welcome to the School Blog. Thank you once again for your patience during these challenging times of industrial action. We will monitor the situation and keep you well-informed of any developments before the next planned action. This is currently scheduled for the 15th and 16th […]

The Half-Term Update Welcome to the School Blog. With the days gradually lengthening, both students and staff look forward to a well-deserved break. Year 9 Parents’ Evening Success Yesterday evening, we held our Year 9 Parents’ Evening, providing essential advice and guidance to all students on their options for the […]

Christmas Concert Welcome to the School Blog. As many of you will know, we had a wonderful concert in school last night. . We would like to say a big diolch yn fawr to everyone who participated, facilitated, or attended the event. Mental Health Awareness Assembly Our main assembly focused […]

Campus Closure and Industrial Action Welcome to the School Blog. This week has felt quite unusual, with the campus closing to students on Wednesday due to industrial action. We sincerely appreciate your patience and remain genuinely hopeful that the current dispute will resolve soon. Should this not happen, further information […]

Mid-Term Updates Welcome to the School Blog. As we reach the mid-point in this half-term, we are pleased to announce that our Sixth Form Open Evening yesterday was a great success. Our student ambassadors excelled, and guests provided extremely positive feedback about the information supplied and the experience they had […]

Weather Impacts on School Life Welcome to the School Blog. School life has been influenced by the weather conditions to some extent this week. Despite the excitement snowfall brings, students have generally behaved impeccably and with great respect when moving around the school campus. It looks like the weekend will […]

Welcome Back! Welcome to the School Blog. We trust you have all enjoyed a fine break over the Christmas and New Year period. Time goes so quickly, doesn’t it? Christmas Market Success The last few days before Christmas were incredibly busy at school. We were thrilled that our Year 10 […]

End of Term Updates and Celebrations Welcome to the School Blog. As we draw towards the end of an extraordinary long term, it is with deep regret that we were forced to postpone our Christmas Concert due to excessive student and staff absences through illness. We will refund all tickets […]

End of Term Excitement Welcome to the School Blog. With less than two weeks of teaching time left, it is understandable that some of our students are becoming a little excitable. However, it is good to report that behaviour remains appropriate and standards are maintained throughout the curriculum. This is […]

Winter Season Updates and Events Welcome to the School Blog. Bore da! We began the first week of winter this week, and although it is noticeably colder, we have thankfully been spared the rain so far! This dry weather has allowed us to reopen our all-weather pitch to students. Most […]

Mid-Term Update and Exciting Developments Welcome to the School Blog. Bore da! We have nearly reached the middle of this half term, and the lighter evenings are now a thing of the past. However, we are thrilled to announce that our new all-weather pitch will partially open to all students […]

Supporting Children in Need Welcome to the School Blog. Today, our school community supports Children in Need. Kindly make your contributions online via Gateway. The charity will gratefully receive these funds. Although we all agree that the best scenario would be for this charity to become unnecessary, we truly appreciate […]

Remembrance Day Assembly Welcome to the School Blog. Today began with a thoughtful, reflective, whole school assembly for Remembrance Day. We are very thankful for our supportive Governing Body, who joined us for the occasion. We are also grateful to Ella (Year 8), who performed ‘Fountain in the Rain’ so […]

End of a Long Half Term Welcome to the School Blog. As we reach the end of an extremely long half term, we can report that all Year 7 students enjoyed their Talk the Talk workshops yesterday. The trainers were exceptionally complimentary about everyone who participated, praising their skills and […]

Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Assemblies Welcome to the School Blog. As we entered school this morning, we saw a sea of pink across the Sixth Form as students and staff reflected on Breast Cancer Awareness this month. Our Lower School Assembly focused on taking responsibility, featuring excellent readings from […]

Celebrating Shwmae Sumae Day Welcome to the School Blog. Bore Da! Today, we celebrate Shwmae Sumae Day in school. Students have already participated in a live quiz during registration, and various other activities are happening throughout the school today. All KS3 students will engage in a scavenger hunt during their […]

Successful Information Evening Welcome to the School Blog. It was delightful to see numerous Year 10 families yesterday at our Information Evening. Everyone agreed it was a worthwhile occasion, filled with valuable information. Diolch to all families and staff involved in the event. Fire Drill We conducted a fire drill […]

Open Evening and Morning Welcome to the School Blog. Last night we hosted our New Intake Open Evening, and what an amazing occasion it was! Nearly 350 students attended voluntarily to showcase their talents and knowledge of a school they are clearly proud of. Our students have always been our […]

Upcoming Events Welcome to the School Blog. Even at this early stage of the academic year, plenty is happening at Castell Alun. Although only a four-day school week, Year 7 students had their first experience of sitting an assessment their CATs tests. We will not know the results of these […]

A Respectful Atmosphere Welcome to the School Blog. A highly respectful atmosphere has filled our bustling school campus this week. We were thrilled for our students and their families with the examination results of August 2022. We welcomed back a high number of both Castell Alun and external students into […]

Welcome Welcome to the School Blog A great big Castell Alun welcome to all new students, especially this morning. As we start our new school year, we can report that everyone is settling in well. Yesterday evening’s news dominates our thoughts today. Reflecting on Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy We have just […]

End of Year School Blog Welcome to the School Blog. We have just one week left, so this will be the final School Blog of the academic year. Although everyone at school is ready for the summer break, standards remain high in both academic and behavioural terms. Celebrating Reading Millionaires […]

Busy Times Before Summer Break Welcome to the School Blog. As we begin July, we are mindful that our students have only two more weeks of school before their summer break. Year 12 students will not attend lessons from 11th July, with some undertaking work experience and others exploring opportunities […]

Examination Season Success Welcome to the School Blog. We have finally reached the end of the examination season. Although it has most certainly been trying at times for various reasons, our students have given their best and thoroughly deserve success in the future. We are proud of every single one […]

WJEC Frustrations It’s great to have our Year 12 students back with us. Everybody has come through the examination period, although some have expressed frustrations about certain papers. We have already passed these frustrations onto the WJEC. Further feedback will be provided to the board as necessary on an individual […]

Year 12 Returns Welcome to the School Blog. We eagerly anticipate seeing our Year 12 students return on Monday. Many students and staff have already provided feedback to the WJEC on recent examination papers. Additionally, we will send a comprehensive school letter to the examination board and Qualifications Wales. Big […]

Examination Season and Student Achievements Welcome to the School Blog. The examination season is in full flow, and our students have impressed us with their responses. Despite their recent lack of participation in such assessments, they have shown resilience. Many of you are aware that students across Wales have taken […]

Examination Updates and Celebrations Welcome to the School Blog. Our examination students are coping remarkably well, considering that very few have undertaken formal external examinations in the past couple of years. Staff will give feedback on the WJEC and all examination papers to Qualifications Wales over the coming weeks. Therefore, […]

Examination Season Begins Welcome to the School Blog. The examination season has officially begun, and parents/carers of students have been notified of procedures should a student become ill, with or without COVID, when they are due to sit an exam. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to […]

Examination Season Focus Welcome to the School Blog. As the examination season begins, there is most certainly a studious focus in school across all year groups. Rewards Breakfasts We have hosted rewards breakfasts for hardworking and high-performing students in various year groups over the past couple of weeks. Unsurprisingly, the […]

Welcome Back After Easter Welcome to the School Blog. We hope you enjoyed a restful Easter. Our students have returned with excellent attitudes, and many are now ready for their external examinations. Please remember that any student experiencing anxiety or stress should speak to their Group Tutor or Student Development […]

Settling into the New School Week Welcome to the School Blog. We have now returned to a standard school week, which will see us through to the Easter break. Our students have adapted to this slight change in our daily timings with ease. Year 7 Virtual Parents’ Evening Thank you […]

Approaching Easter Break Welcome to the School Blog. With just one more school week to go before the Easter break, we would like to thank you for all of your support and understanding as we have tirelessly sought to keep all students in school, despite ever-increasing COVID rates amongst students […]

Springtime and Rising COVID Cases Welcome to the School Blog. The wonderful weather, lighter mornings, and longer evenings are a welcome change for all of us. Unfortunately, however, incidences of COVID are once again on the rise locally. A number of our staff and students currently have the virus, so […]

Supporting Ukraine Welcome to the School Blog. As a school community, we have all been horrified by the events unfolding in Ukraine. We are sure that you, too, struggle to make sense of such acts of unwarranted aggression. Several organisations are currently putting great effort into helping those displaced from […]

Reflecting on Global Events Welcome to the School Blog. As we navigate what seems to be the tail end of the pandemic, we remain acutely mindful of the horrors continuing in Ukraine. This global situation profoundly influences our lives at present, and many of us have already found ways to […]

Celebrating Our Patron Saint, Dewi Sant Welcome to the School Blog. It was lovely to return to school after the half-term break and spend the week commemorating our patron saint, Dewi Sant, and celebrating all things Welsh. Cake Sale Success On Monday, staff enjoyed partaking in the cake sale. The […]

Focus and Purpose Welcome to the School Blog. As we approach our final week of half term, there is a clear sense of focus and purpose in our school family. This is especially true for those among those preparing for external examinations this summer. Therefore, we feel it is an […]