We feel that students are best advised to follow their ‘normal daily timetable’ when seeking to schedule their own learning away from Castell Alun over the coming weeks. Teachers have already advised their students on how best to approach learning for specific subjects. The use of Google Classroom will be fundamental to continued learning, but a number of other subject-specific resources will also be helpful for the foreseeable future. Help on accessing Google Classroom is readily available on the school website, should parents / carers require further assistance in supporting their children. The information below is intended to enhance, supplement and further interpret that which has already been given to our students / parents / carers. Teachers will endeavour to continue to provide learning opportunities over the coming weeks, thus it is vital that students regularly check the various channels of communication currently in use for individual classes.  

We understand wholeheartedly that students in Years 11 and 13 specifically may see little purpose in following some of the educational suggestions made to them. On this theme is it worth considering how best to prepare for intended courses of study from September onwards. This, in itself, is a challenge, as many of you may well not be absolutely certain which subjects you will pursue, or indeed what your professional future may hold for you. Our advice would be to continue with subject related work, as in reality we are currently unsure of the detail and process of how grades will be awarded over coming months. It is likely that you would choose to focus more upon subjects that you may well continue to study in some way from September onwards. Where these subjects are as yet unclear, it would be wise to continue your work in a broad diet of subjects in order to keep your options open, or indeed respond to exam board grading anomalies.  

Students in Years 10 and 12 must complete as much of the work set by their teachers as possible. It is currently unclear how / if examination grades will actually be awarded this year. It is still possible that some of the postponed examinations could be held early next academic year. 

 It is also noting that Joe Wicks (Fitness Coach) will be leading a free PE lesson each day on his YouTube channel for all children at 9am. We’d encourage everyone to carry on exercising in any way deemed appropriate over the coming weeks in order to remain both physically and mentally fit. 

Useful general sites:- 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize 

https://www.activityvillage.co.uk/ 

https://www.spellingshed.com/ 

Mathswatch 

 
Pastoral 

All students have access to their Year Group “Notice Board” on Google Classroom. This has up-to-date notices and details for the students. If this isn’t visible on your child’s Google Classroom Dashboard, please contact us on main@castellalun.flintshire.sch.uk to resolve this.? 

ICT 

Students will continue to receive work via their Google Classrooms as they did in ICT lessons. This will contain tutorial videos and tasks will aim to use freely available software. 

Art 

Each Art class across all year groups have been assigned a Google Classroom account by their Art teacher. 

All Year 7, 8 and 9 students have 1 hour of Art per week. Each teacher will assign work on a weekly basis and will let students know in the instructions for each assignment how long they should spend completing each piece of work. 

GCSE and A Level Art students have access to their Art and Design Google Classroom. Teachers will post assignments and resources for students to undertake whilst they are not in school. They can also make contact with their teachers via the private comments area through Google Classroom to ask questions and advice on their work as they produce it. 

Design Technology 

For Years 7, 8 and 9 each teacher will assign work on a weekly basis and will let students know in the instructions for the assignment how long they should spend on each piece of work. 

GCSE and A Level Engineering Design, CAD, Engineering, Food and Nutrition and Product Design students have access to their class Google Classroom and have been using it extensively since the beginning of the course. Teachers will post assignments and resources for students to undertake whilst they are not in school. They can also make contact with their teachers through Google Classroom to ask questions and advice on their work as it progresses. 

Business 

All work will be assigned via Google Classroom. BTEC Level 2/3 Business will be assigned work on a weekly basis. Instructions will be given on how to complete a task which will help towards their controlled assessment. Students are encouraged to use the private comments area if they are struggling with a piece of work.? 

Economics

All work will be assigned via Google Classroom. Economics students will be provided with a past paper on a weekly basis. It will include the past paper and the mark scheme. Students are encouraged to attempt the past paper in the relevant time they would have in the examination. The mark scheme is being provided so students can get instant help if they are stuck on a particular question. Students are to upload their work in the assignment area so feedback can be given. Lesson material will also be uploaded to aid revision. Students are urged to use the private comments if they are struggling with any content.? 

Criminology 

All work will be assigned via Google Classroom and will be assigned work on a weekly basis. Instructions will be given on how to complete a task. Students are encouraged to use the private comments area if they are struggling with a piece of work and the teacher will respond as swiftly as possible. 

English 

UPDATE (26/03/2020):

From now on, all messages, work and materials for English will be on the Google Classroom set up for your year group and the individual class site will no longer be in use. We want to make things as simple and straightforward for you, so having everything in one place should help. You should have received an invite to the English classroom – please accept if you haven’t already. The codes are below:

Year 7 English 2019-20: j3aisma

Year 8 English 2019-20: 6eqeqql

Year 9 English 2019-20: hvsuto7

Year 10 English 2019-20: 2n35igy

Year 11 English 2019-20: sgrtfze

Initial tasks uploaded include:-

Year 7-9

1. Reading for enjoyment, including Accelerated Reader books and quizzes

1. Writing a story for the Young Writers ‘SOS Sagas: Missing’ competition (deadline extended to 30th April)

1. Writing a poem for the Young Writers ‘Through Their Eyes’ competition (deadline extended to 30th April)

1. Reading First News

1. First News comprehension tasks and language puzzles

Year 10

1. Reading – a wide range of fiction and non-fiction – link provided to World Books website where over 3,000 ebooks and audiobooks can be accessed for free

1. Entering 1 of 3 Young Writers writing competitions – link provided to the website with all the details

1. GCSE English Language individual presentation preparation. Students are to look at the launch material and then submit a proposed presentation title. Once the title has been approved, students can research and draft their presentation. There are plenty of teaching resources on there that cover the key skills of presentation content and delivery.

Year 12-13

For both Language and Literature classes work will be set on the specific class Google Classrooms. For both, it will involve some wider reading/research around the Y13 exam topics plus initial preparation of the coursework piece.

Physical Education 

Google Classroom accounts have been created for students in Years 7-9 so they can access physical activity videos, worksheets and keeping fit tips which can be completed at home in their own time. Students have been asked to add themselves in PE classes, however if students have not had the codes they are below:- 

YEAR 7 PHYSICAL EDUCATION 

class code: m7nbo4r 

YEAR 8 PHYSICAL EDUCATION 

class code: p6yyibe 

YEAR 9 PHYSICAL EDUCATION 

class code: svl3mpz 

Students can also use the Strava application to track a walk, run or cycle they may complete at home. 

It is really important to continue to develop your fitness, keep your body active and get fresh outdoor air when you can. 

Music 

For Key Stage 3, work set will be via the MusicFirst Focus on Sound application accessed via link in Google Classroom stream (using the web or phone/tablet app). Each student has their own login/password, which is the same as their usual login/password to our networked computers. 

Those students who play an instrument should also be encouraged to develop their playing skills as part of their music work. 

Please note:- 

For PE, Dance, Music, Drama – each student of a KS4 and KS5 class has been given specific instructions on how to access work set through Google Classroom. 

Cymraeg/German/Spanish/Welsh  

Years 7-11 

All students have a code to access their Google Classroom page for each language class that they are in. 

We are posting work on each page that details the tasks that each individual group should be completing at home. Below are further general instructions for students to continue their language learning. 

1. Log on to Google Classroom and follow the instructions given by your language teacher. 
2. Use Quizlet to practise sets of vocabulary that we have been studying this term. You can join the Castell Alun Quizlet pages or use your list of topics to do your own inde-pendent learning. Links to join your class Quizlet page will be provided on Google Classroom.
3. Use BBC Bitesize KS3/4 to revise the topics that we have covered in Welsh 2nd Language/French/German/Spanish (KS3). These are all available in the relevant KS3 or KS4 sections of Bitesize for the languages that you are studying.
4. Use Duolingo to keep your language learning going. It is free to join and is a great way to reinforce your language skills.
5. For MFL visit the Atantot website – Username = CASTELLALUN Password = 1817 and there you will find lots of resources and games to practise your French/German/Spanish.

Year 12 and 13 Cymraeg/ French/German 

As with all main school classes, all Sixth Form students have a code to access their Google Classroom page for each language class that they are in and we will continue to post work on each page relevant to you, with the understanding that much of this work is perhaps now of greater significance to Year 12 students. Please find below instructions for students to continue their language learning. 

1. Log on to Google Classroom and follow the instructions given by your language teacher. Complete as many tasks as you can. Past paper exam questions still have relevance, especially to students in Year 12. Vocabulary learning and grammar revision will be key in preparing yourselves for the next phase of learning. 
2. French/German – use your Dynamic Learning logins to access lessons that your teachers will assign you. This will likely be a mixture of general revision activities and, of course, eventually preparation for Year 13 studies.

Humanities 

Key Stage 3 classes – Years 7, 8 & 9 

Work has been posted on Google Classroom for each subject, Geography, History and RS. Students were given classroom codes and have already joined. Anyone not present to do so has been invited separately to join. Where this is impossible for any reason, please contact the school at your earliest convenience. 

Specific instructions regarding work set is provided. There are a variety of tasks for each subject and teachers have provided clear instructions regarding what work they want completing and how. 

Key Stage 4 – Year 10 

In all Humanities subjects it is imperative that student continue with their course. Again, work has been set by teachers in each subject, giving clear guidance and instructions for completion. All students are already part of the Google Classroom pages. Those who were not have been invited and anyone without access has been provided with work to complete. Details regarding submission of work completed will be provided by each teacher. 

Key Stage 5 – Year 12 

Individual subject teachers will be posting work in order to facilitate the completion of the course, where this is needed. It is vital that the Year 12 courses are completed and students have been provided with instructions on what to do by their teachers and via Google Classroom. 

In the event of a long term closure, subject teachers will be posting work in order to start on the Year 13 course, as would have been the case after the return of Year 12 after study leave. Subject teachers will post details of this as and when it becomes relevant. 

If there are any queries regarding work set, students can post questions to their teachers and seek further guidance. Work has been set in relation to how many lessons students would have between now and Easter. This will continue after the Easter holidays, if required. 

Maths 

Year 7 

MathsWatch 

Weekly skill checks 

Year 8 

MathsWatch  

Weekly skill checks  

Year 9 

MathsWatch

Revision 1 Foundation, Intermediate or Higher 

Revision 2?Foundation, Intermediate or Higher 

Unit 5 and 6 test revision questions?Foundation, Intermediate or Higher 

Year 10  

MathsWatch 

Numerous revision past papers and topic assessment.  

A minimum of 2 sets of past papers?for each class for each tier of exam entry. 

Individual class teachers have also set additional work for their classes using Google classroom.  

Year 11 

MathsWatch 

Numerous revision past papers and topic assessment tasks. 

Individual class teachers have also set additional work for their classes using Google classroom. 

Year 12 and 13  

Paper based revision material issued for Pure and applied. 

Students have been given integral maths’ log on details in order to access further notes, examples and exercises. 

Various websites have been recommended to students 

Science 

All Year 7, 8 and 9 students have been given Google Classroom codes, both generic and also tutor group specific. All work is to be found using these codes, and they are listed below as a reminder:- 

FOR ALL STUDENTS: rmdl4ov 

In addition to that:- 

Year 7 

7M twcut3x, 7E cir6xkb, 7N w6pfix, 7T ldig4f5, 7O ldig4f5, 7R 2ldjez2, 7U twcut3x, 7S mmxoup6 

Year 8  

For all Students: 3wpowlo 

In addition to that:- 

Group Teacher Codes 

X4 Mrs G Caswell Jones twPfe63Y5 Mrs G Caswell Jones gmief64 

X5 Dr N Davies g6rmvvxY2 Dr N Davies v4fbxqu 

X2 Mr J Roberts tx75eweY1 Mr J Roberts uxxeyji 

Mrs K Jackson 2tdvvxMr D Swale wo3cefe 

Mrs V Pearn z5gzlzrMrs H Reeves p5tucy6 

Year 9 

For all students: hq2kguo 

In addition to that:- 

Group Teacher Codes 

Dr N Davies etqlsioMr J Evans ryurrf2 

Mrs K Jackson (class X2) 4ajuu(class Y4) w10j8w 

Dr M Galvin pmw5myzMrs V Pearn vou3fe2 

Mrs H Reeves rxqytwhMr J Roberts zpelwcw 

Mr D Swale xeano6eMs K Vaughan ryurrf2 

Mrs Llewellyn Davies and Mr A Duffy lmcbd4x (also available to all year 9 students) 

Key Stage 4 Google Classroom Codes 

Astronomy h611xo7 

Biology – 2 Classrooms are available 

Double Award 19-20 (for all) eflpx5i 

Sep. Sci 6eihpiw 

Individual class codes 

Mrs Wade (XC) ep7v2w5 

Mrs Reeves YC ik6gb3bX1 e3xakgb 

Mr Swales XN oa6ztfy 

Mrs Dunn alfsz4c 

Chemistry 

Mrs Jackson X1 r6y7scfXS rm26tn5YC 7xcb56x 

Dr Galvin Y1 plouror 

Mrs Llewelyn Davies XE huz2byiYN cnk4ntlYS gv76vko 

Mr EvansXC ikjbq4lXN xv54atdYE f4evspc 

Physics 

Mr Duffy 10XC imsvo2a     11YN aful364    11YS tqg44oo     11X1 u7rlqpc 

Mrs Caswell-Jones 10XE eldcw4y 10YE jprsnt6 10YS tqlimni    11Y1 z4cogap 11XN lcwz5i6 11XC ee7t4b4 11YC e2viz5j 

Mr Eve 10YC 62eni5q 10XS 6y4txtt 10YN yphxop6 10X1 bongfak 11YE olcjigw 11XS nyr5afm 

Mr Roberts 10XN rjukm5j 10Y1 haezbvi 11XE ddvh7np