Summer Term | Tymor yr Haf

Dear Parents, Carers, Pupils, and Friends of Heolddu,

As we come to the end of an incredibly busy summer term, I am filled with pride reflecting on the achievements of our school community in this newsletter. Our pupils have demonstrated resilience and dedication, excelling in their learning, the arts, and sports. Their commitment, supported by our dedicated staff, has been truly inspiring.  We have enjoyed celebrating their successes in family assemblies and sports awards evenings with you, and we look forward to seeing the achievements of our GCSE and A Level students on results days in August. Your continued support plays a vital role in our collective success, and I extend my heartfelt thanks.

It has been a brilliant start to the 'new' academic year this week as we have welcomed Year 6 into the TîmHeolddu family, and we look forward to working with our new families and pupils in the autumn term.

Enjoy a safe, restful summer break and see you all in September.

Mrs N Davies

Headteacher | Pennaeth

As this academic year comes to an end, we would like to take a moment and share some farewell messages to the members of our Tîm Heolddu staff that are leaving us.

The Cymraeg and International Languages Faculty would like to send our best wishes to our colleagues who are retiring or moving on to new opportunities at the end of this academic year. It’s been a pleasure to work with you, and to have taught some of you as Heolddu students!

Staff and students of the Heolddu LPC wish Mr Peter James a relaxed and happy retirement from his managerial role.

Mr Peter James established the LPC in September 2016. The centre supports students from across Caerphilly Borough who have disengaged from mainstream school. Mr James’ vision was to provide a safe, nurturing environment with high expectations for academic, social, and emotional development – all of which he has achieved.

Enjoy your time with your family, Mr James. Always remember, you are not only a Heolddu Legend, but a Heolddu LPC Legend.

Wendy,  you have made my time at Heolddu so worthwhile!  It has been wonderful to work in the ALN team with you.  You have always been so full of knowledge, and happy to help me when I didn't know things, especially in my early days. Your retirement is a huge loss to the school.  Take care and enjoy whatever your next adventure brings.  Love Alison x

We’d like to send a special thank you to Mrs Horley for all of your support with our learners in class and beyond - enjoy your thoroughly well-deserved retirement. We look forward to celebrating with you at the end of the term. Pob lwc / Bonne chance.

- The Cymraeg and International Languages Department

Lee, it has been a pleasure working with you. Good luck for the future.

So long, Farewell on your retirement, Kim. I will forever be grateful for the delicious roast dinners you provided for my mother when she was at the end of her time. She thoroughly enjoyed every mouthful. We will all miss your delicious meals and generous ways. Now it's time to put your feet up and spend your time doing what you love. Take care and keep in touch! 

- Mrs S. Spokes

Education Maintenance Allowance Eligibility | Cymhwyster i’r Lwfans Cynhaliaeth Addysg

Curious if your 16–18-year-old could receive £40 per week (paid every two weeks)? The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) offers financial support to young people staying in education.

Check EMA eligibility and learn more:

🔗 Please visit gov.wales/education-maintenance-allowance-ema

Year 7 Litter Pick

Team Year 7 have been out in force over the past two weeks, every morning making a difference to the school and outside grounds to help clean up our school and community. Well done, Year 7!

Special Visit from Sgt Morgan Brewer | Ymweliad Arbennig gan y Rhingyll Morgan Brewer

We were thrilled to welcome back former pupil Sgt Morgan Brewer, who made a dramatic return to Heolddu this term by ‘dropping in’ in style — flying in on his army Wildcat helicopter! Pupils and staff loved seeing (and hearing) the helicopter arrive and land on the school 3G pitch.

It was an inspirational visit that reminded us all of the amazing paths our #TîmHeolddu alumni go on to take. We’re always proud to see former pupils staying connected with the school and the wider community.

Pizza Party for Young Carers | Parti Pizza i Ofalwyr Ifanc

We have had the pleasure of supporting almost 40 Young Carers throughout this school year.  They are a truly amazing group of pupils, from all school years.  The range of support they offer differs greatly, but they all take their responsibilities very seriously, and we are so proud of them for this!

We have been on a lot of very exciting trips, and for our end-of-year meeting, we decided to throw a Pizza Party.  Heolddu just wanted to show their support and gratitude to this wonderful group of students and give them a little treat just for themselves.  Around 25 of the Young Carers attended and they had a great time and ate a lot of Pizza!

Royal Mint Visit | Taith i’r Frenhines Feddalfa

Year 8 and 9 pupils took a trip to the Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant with the Maths Department. Pupils were given a tour to see where the coins are made and learn some history of coin production at the mint. It was fascinating to discover how much the Royal Mint has changed over time. It’s not just about pennies and pounds anymore – they now make medals, commemorative coins, and even jewellery.

“We learned about the machines used to manufacture the coins, safety features to prevent fakes, procedures to ensure batches are correct, countries the mint ships coins to, and the jewellery made by the Royal Mint.” One highlight was striking their own coin using a real press and keeping their pristine coin.

The ‘Fakes and Forgeries’ workshop gave the group a chance to be detectives for the day. Each team was given a coin and had to test whether it was real or fake. Some fakes were so convincing it was hard to tell the difference. We found out that the counterfeit coins we handled had been confiscated by the police, which made the experience even more exciting and real.

It was a fantastic day out and we learned loads. Not just about coins, but about the real-life applications of maths. We will definitely look at our change more carefully from now on!

Quotes from pupils who attended:

“I enjoyed the Royal Mint Trip in Llantrisant because it taught me about how important currency is. I learnt how coins were made and took part in a workshop to identify fake or real coins. The immersive experience made me feel included and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip.” – Rachel Davies

“I enjoyed learning facts about the mint and the tour around the factory. I also enjoyed seeing historical coins such as one that Queen Elizabeth struck herself.” – Avasin Dogan

Pupils Visit £300m Etihad Development | Ymweliad Disgyblion â Datblygiad £300m Etihad

Pupils from the Design and Technology Department were recently given a unique and inspiring opportunity to explore one of the UK’s most exciting live construction sites, thanks to leading construction company John Sisk & Son and the generosity of Manchester City Football Club.

As part of their studies on the WJEC Constructing the Built Environment course, Year 10 learners travelled to Manchester to visit the £300 million development project currently underway at the Etihad Stadium. This ambitious project includes the construction of a brand-new hotel, additional stadium seating, hospitality spaces, and modern office facilities.

The visit provided pupils with invaluable insight into large-scale construction processes, project planning, and career pathways within the construction industry. Learners were able to see firsthand how theory translates into practice on a major commercial site, observing how safety, logistics, materials, and coordination all play crucial roles in a successful project.

Following the site visit, pupils were treated to a guided tour of the Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City Football Club. The tour allowed them to explore the stadium's world-class facilities and understand how design, engineering, and construction contribute to delivering a premium experience for fans and visitors.

We are incredibly grateful to John Sisk & Son for their continued support, which includes the generous donation of materials to enhance pupils’ learning experiences in both the classroom and workshop.

We would like to express our gratitude for this incredible experience for our pupils. Being able to visit a live construction site of this scale, speak to industry professionals, and see real-world applications of what they’ve learned in class is invaluable. The ongoing support from Sisk, including material donations, has made a real difference in teaching and the quality of the projects our students can undertake.

Special thanks go to Carl Brierley, Katherine Bollard-Wilkes and the staff at Manchester City Football Club for making this trip possible and for their continued support in connecting education with industry.

The trip was thoroughly enjoyed by all and has inspired many pupils to consider future careers in construction, engineering, and the built environment. It’s another brilliant example of how industry partnerships can bring learning to life and support the Curriculum for Wales’ focus on authentic, real-world experiences.

School Dance Show | Sioe Ddawns Ysgol 

We were thrilled to team up with Aberbargoed Primary School for a fantastic dance event that really brought the community together. It was wonderful to welcome future pupils and share the joy of dance with them. Pupils from Years 7 to 10 showed off their choreography skills and performed with confidence and energy, inspiring the younger dancers with their talent and enthusiasm. Da iawn to everyone involved, it was a brilliant celebration of creativity and community spirit!

Heolddu Sports Awards | Gwobrau Chwaraeon Heolddu

We came together to celebrate the outstanding achievements and unwavering dedication of its pupils at this year's Sports Awards Evening. Throughout the evening, awards were presented across various categories, including Best Athlete, Most Improved, the Sports Captains Awards, Sports Leaders of the Year, and our fabulous Rising Stars. Our PE staff gave out awards to individuals who have truly stood out in lessons, and we also honoured past staff and pupils by naming awards to celebrate their successes. The evening concluded with three prestigious awards given to pupils who are excelling in their respective sports.

Celebrating Success at Our Family Assembly | Dathlu Llwyddiant yn ein Cynulliad Teuluol

This term, we came together as a school community for our Family Assembly, where we celebrated the fantastic achievements of so many of our pupils. A huge number of awards were presented, recognising effort, progress, kindness and contributions across all areas of school life. Pupils were nominated by their teachers, heads of year, and the headteacher; a true testament to the positive impact they’ve made throughout the year.

Congratulations to all our award winners. We’re incredibly proud of you and look forward to seeing even more success next year. Da iawn pawb!

Celebrating Maths Success | Dathlu Llwyddiant Mathemateg

On 1 May 2025, students from Class 8B took part in the prestigious UK Junior Mathematical Challenge, and their hard work and determination certainly paid off.

The Junior Mathematical Challenge is a national competition that encourages mathematical reasoning, precision, and creative problem-solving skills. This year, the top 9% of entrants across the UK were awarded a Gold certificate, the next 17% a Silver, and the following 25% a Bronze.

We are proud to share that our Year 8 students achieved remarkable success in the challenge. From 8B, an impressive eight students earned a Bronze award, two students received Silver, and two students achieved the coveted Gold award — a reflection of their commitment and talent.

The following students received recognition for their achievements:

Gold Award:

● Noah Browne

● Caiden Lewis-Davies

Silver Award:

● Jett Vaughan

● Jack Jones

Bronze Award:

● Ffion Thomas

● Jenson Griffiths

● Oliver Stedman

● Ethanjay Harding

● Matthew Heywood

● Lloyd Bradfield

● Ellis Thomas

● Lacey Hill

Certificates were presented during a celebratory school assembly on 15 May. A huge thank you goes to every student who took part. Your efforts, enthusiasm, and resilience are truly commendable. Well done, 8B! You’ve done Heolddu proud.

Year 9 Girls Get Hands-On with Engineering

As part of our new engineering qualification, a group of Year 9 girls have been taking part in an exciting Green Powered Car project, run through the HiVe initiative. We were delighted to welcome Alexis from Coleg Gwent, along with Keavie, a Year 13 student and fantastic role model, who spent the day introducing the project and supporting our pupils. Before Alexis and Keavie arrived, the girls hadn’t even started building. Thanks to their encouragement and guidance, the team spent the whole day fully engaged, learning new skills and growing in confidence. It was inspiring to see their enthusiasm build, and even more exciting to see another pupil join in on the day, inspired by the energy and positivity in the room. Since then, the girls have continued working on the build during their spare time and have made excellent progress.

We’re thrilled to be offering opportunities like this as part of our new engineering pathway and are grateful to Coleg Gwent for their continued support in encouraging more female pupils into STEM. A huge thank you to Alexis and Keavie for helping make the day such a success, you are both a credit to the college!

Turning Waste into Food | Troi Gwastraff yn Fwyd

8B took part in a sustainable waste project with EESW. Their task was to build and feed a wormery so that they could produce ‘worm tea’. This worm tea will be used as a fertiliser to grow greens that can be eaten. Ultimately, they are turning waste food into food we can eat. The project aims to raise awareness of food waste recycling. Wales is number 2 in the world for recycling, currently just behind Austria. The main area identified as a way Wales could improve and potentially beat Austria was getting better at recycling food waste.

8B are using the time they spend on this project to achieve a CREST science award. They will record their observations and actions in keeping their worms alive and well. We are hoping there will be no fatalities!

Science Week | Wythnos Gwyddoniaeth

The first week of July has been Science Week here at Heolddu Comprehensive. It’s been a great week full of varied activities.

We’ve had external speakers, workshops, quizzes, and a trip to Cardiff University, and we’ve even managed to run sessions using the Van de Graaf generator. Years 7 and 9 had great fun with that, even if Miss Mills was too scared to try it herself

For the past six weeks, Heolddu has been swept up in baking fever as staff from all corners of the school have taken part in our very own Great Heolddu Bake-Off. Inspired by the hit TV show, this friendly (though fiercely competitive) challenge saw teachers and governors donning their aprons and rising to the occasion.

Each week, participants tackled a different baking brief, from crusty breads and delicate choux pastries to an ambitious showstopper linked to their department. Although the bakes were made at home, the excitement spilled into school, with staffrooms buzzing about proving times, piping skills and flavour twists.

Teams from SLT, Design & Technology, Science, Humanities, PE, ALN and even our governors all threw their oven gloves into the ring. The results have been a brilliant mix of creativity and humour, from science-themed cakes to historically inspired tarts and sporty sweet treats.

Now, the big moment is almost here: the live in-school Final Bake-Off Showdown! Finalists will take on one last challenge in front of a live audience, with the whole school eager to see who will be crowned Heolddu’s Star Baker.

It has been a fantastic event, revealing hidden talents and bringing staff together in the best possible way. We can’t wait to share photos, highlights and of course the winners!