School Blog

Welcome back and a very happy New Year to our whole school community. As we returned after the Christmas holidays, snowy conditions caused some unexpected disruption. However, we thank our parents, students and families for their patience, flexibility and continued support during this time. Importantly, we are especially grateful to […]

Croeso Welcome to the final school blog of the year! As we come to the end of another busy and successful term, this edition is a wonderful celebration of everything our school community has achieved. From festive services and enriching trips to sporting success, environmental awards and a little stargazing […]

Croeso As we approach the end of term, it has been another wonderfully busy and inspiring week at Castell Alun. Our school has been filled with festive spirit, creative talent and impressive achievements across a wide range of activities. From a sell-out Christmas Concert that lit up the hall, to […]

Croeso This week has been a wonderful celebration of the values that define Castell Alun—Respect, Determination and Honesty. Across Performing Arts, Sport and Modern Foreign Languages, our students have shown what it means to embrace opportunities, work with integrity, and support one another. From the joy of the Year 7 […]

Croeso Welcome to this week’s update from Castell Alun. We’ve had a busy and exciting few days filled with learning opportunities, enrichment activities and outstanding achievements across the school. From academic progress and parental engagement, to cutting-edge STEM experiences, exceptional sporting performances and whole-school initiatives, our students continue to make […]

Croeso This week at Castell Alun has been a wonderful reminder of the values that shape our school community. From the generosity and respect shown during our Children in Need celebrations, to the thoughtful learning and honesty demonstrated by Year 7 in their Crucial Crew safety sessions, and the impressive […]

Croeso It’s been a busy and inspiring week at our school, filled with moments of reflection, creativity, and teamwork. From our moving Remembrance Assembly, where the whole school came together to honour those who have served, to the hardworking Gardening Club enhancing our grounds for autumn, there has been so […]

Croeso Welcome back to the second half of our Autumn Term! We hope everyone enjoyed a well-deserved break and is ready for a busy and exciting few weeks ahead. There’s lots to pack into this half term, including our Year 11 GCSE exams, Sixth Form mock exams and many other […]

Croeso As we wrap up this half term, it’s been a week full of achievements, celebrations and school spirit! From the Year 7 Blyddyn 7 Disco raising money for the Eisteddfod, to Seamus being named Young Farmers Member of the Year, and the launch of our Cyngor Cymraeg / Welsh […]

Croeso This week, our whole school came together for a special Harvest Assembly, celebrating the theme of thankfulness, community, and generosity. It was a wonderful opportunity to pause and reflect on how even the smallest acts of kindness can make a big difference to others. A huge well done to […]

Croeso Welcome to this edition of the Castell Alun School Blog, where we celebrate the creativity, achievements and experiences that make our school community so special. From inspiring university visits and thought-provoking wellbeing workshops to musical performances, poetry celebrations and sporting triumphs, our students have once again shown enthusiasm, talent […]

Croeso Welcome to this week’s Castell Alun High School Blog! We’ve had another busy and exciting week in school, with plenty of achievements to celebrate and news to share. A special thank-you goes to our excellent assembly readers — Will, Bess and Sam in Year 8 — who read with […]

Croeso What a busy and inspiring week it has been here at Castell Alun! We begin by celebrating the huge success of our New Intake Open Evening, which took place last night. The school was buzzing, with corridors and classrooms filled with families eager to learn about life at Castell […]

Croeso At Castell Alun, we take pride in our strong sense of belonging and the way our students support one another, celebrating achievements big and small. Already we are celebrating inspiring moments that reflect our values and our commitment to Cynefin (a Welsh word meaning “the place where you feel […]

Croeso A very warm welcome to our first blog of the new school year! We are so excited to greet our new Year 7 students and any others who have joined our school family this year. It’s been an incredible start, and we’re already feeling the sense of togetherness that […]

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 […]

Croeso Welcome to this week’s School Blog, as we enter the penultimate week of what has been another action-packed school year! With the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 kicking off in Switzerland, it feels only fitting that this week has a strong sporty feel. From the energy and excitement of our […]

Croeso This week at Castell Alun, we’ve seen our core values of respect, determination, and honesty come to life through a wide range of exciting opportunities for our students. From welcoming our new Year 7s with warmth and enthusiasm, to celebrating our Careers Wales Quality Award success, to embracing Welsh […]

Croeso It’s been an incredibly busy and exciting week across the school, filled with celebration, achievement and connection. From welcoming our new Year 7 families and students, to waving off our wonderful Year 11s in style at their prom, the spirit of our school community has truly shone through. We’ve […]

Croeso Welcome to this week’s Castell Alun blog — sharing our road to success! We are proud to celebrate and reflect on the incredible achievements, events and opportunities that have taken place recently in our school community. From hosting our Cymraeg Campus Silver Award presentation morning, where we shared our […]

Croeso As the summer term gathers pace, we’re delighted to share a roundup of the inspiring achievements, opportunities, and celebrations that have taken place across our school community. From outer space to the sports field, our students have continued to aim high and support one another. This week, we proudly […]

Croeso Croeso i flog Ysgol Uwchradd Castell Alun! We’re delighted to share a snapshot of the vibrant life here at school — from our glowing Estyn inspection report to the creative and sporting achievements of our amazing students. Whether it’s reaching new heights on Kilimanjaro, growing fresh produce in our […]

Croeso As we bid farewell to our Year 13 students today, we take a moment to reflect on the many years they have spent with us and the remarkable journeys they have each undertaken. We are incredibly proud of every single one of them—their personal growth, achievements and resilience have […]

Croeso Welcome to this week’s School Blog! The sun is still shining, and our school community continues to shine just as brightly. With GCSE and A-Level exams in full flow, we are incredibly proud of how our students are conducting themselves—showing true respect for the process, determination to do their […]

Croeso Welcome to our weekly School Blog. This week marks National Teacher Appreciation Week, a special time to pause and recognise the incredible dedication, passion and care shown by our teachers every single day. If we reflect on the impact teachers have, we see it extends not just in delivering […]

Croeso Welcome back to the summer term! We hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable Easter break. It’s been a wonderfully warm and sunny start to the term here at school, and there’s a real sense of energy and enthusiasm as we begin the final stretch of the academic year. […]

Croeso As the final week of the Spring term begins, we look ahead to a well-deserved Easter break. Now is the perfect time to reflect on a truly uplifting and rewarding few months at Castell Alun. Our school community has consistently demonstrated our core values of Respect, Determination and Honesty […]

Croeso We’re excited to share all the wonderful things happening across our school community. This blog is your go-to place for celebrating student success, showcasing special events and keeping up with all the latest news from Castell Alun. From outstanding achievements in competitions to inspiring guest visits, fun and engaging […]

Croeso It has been another busy and exciting week in our school community. We are incredibly proud of the hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm shown by our students, staff, and families. Every day, we see wonderful examples of our school values—respect, determination, and honesty—in action, whether in the classroom, on […]

Croeso Croeso i’r blog ysgol wythnosol.  Welcome to this week’s School Blog. With the weather warming up and daffodils blooming all around, spring is truly making its presence felt! This change in season brings a renewed sense of energy and excitement, and we have plenty to celebrate within our school […]

Croeso Welcome to this week’s school blog! We’ve had another exciting and productive few days here at school, where our core values of respect, determination, and honesty have been at the heart of everything we do. From the passionate dedication of our students preparing for the upcoming production of Our […]

Croeso Welcome back to the second half of our Spring term! It’s great to see the days growing longer, the weather warming up, and signs of spring all around us. This week’s School Blog highlights our St. David’s Day celebrations, reflecting on his powerful message: “Gwnewch y pethau bychain”—”Do the […]

Croeso As we close the final week of the half term, it’s clear how much our school community has grown and thrived together, guided by our core values of respect, determination and honesty. This week’s Blog is packed with stories that truly reflect the spirit of Castell Alun, and we’re […]

Croeso Welcome to this week’s School Blog. We have plenty of exciting news and achievements to share. From impressive sporting successes to the ongoing development of our transition programme with our feeder primary schools, there’s so much to celebrate. We hope you enjoy reading about the fantastic things happening here […]

Croeso Welcome to this week’s School Blog! We are excited to share some wonderful updates from across the school, celebrating the hard work and dedication of our students and staff. This week, we focus on the importance of learning for life, embracing the Curriculum for Wales, and how our commitment […]

Celebrating the Four Purposes in Action Welcome to the School Blog. This week, we are celebrating how our students embrace the Four Purposes of the Curriculum for Wales in the classroom and through a wide range of activities within our school community. From ambitious, capable learners excelling in their studies […]

Braving the Storm This week, Castell Alun has once again shown its resilience as we braced ourselves for another storm with high winds sweeping through the region. Despite the challenging weather, we’re proud to have kept the school open and running smoothly, ensuring minimal disruption for our students. A huge […]

Fantastic Start Croeso i flog yr wythnos hon! The second week of the Spring term draws to a close, and what a fantastic start it has been! From the classrooms to the sports fields, there’s been an inspiring buzz of energy and commitment as students and staff embrace the school […]

Welcome to the first School Blog of 2025! Blwyddyn Newydd Dda! Happy New Year! As we step into the new term after the Christmas break, it’s wonderful to see our school community back together, ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities of the year ahead. Despite the bitterly cold weather, […]

Welcome to the last School Blog of 2024! Welcome to the Castell Alun High School Blog The last day (and School Blog) of the Autumn term has finally arrived and it is the perfect time to reflect on the true essence of the season: togetherness. At our school, the Christmas […]

Welcome to the Castell Alun High School Blog With just one week to go until the Christmas holidays, it’s amazing to see how dedicated our students remain as they power through the final stretch of the term. Despite the festive season fast approaching, their commitment to their studies continues to […]

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 […]