Summer Term | Tymor yr Haf

A message from the Headteacher | Neges gan y Pennaeth

Dear Parents, Carers, and Friends of Heolddu Comprehensive,

Welcome to the summer! As the warmer weather continues, it has brought a renewed sense of energy to our school community. This term is always a special one, blending focused preparation with celebration, and it gives us a moment to look back on what has truly been an exceptional academic year.

We are incredibly proud that our recent school inspection was an absolute triumph. The inspectors recognised the dedication of our staff and the brilliant attitude of our pupils, highlighting several areas where our school genuinely shines. In fact, the final report features two official case studies of best practice—one celebrating our innovative approach to developing the Tîm Heolddu way, and another praising our whole school approach to improving attendance. This is a massive validation of the hard work happening in our classrooms every single day.

Our success this year is visible right across the school:

• Vibrant Learning Beyond the Classroom: It has been a bumper year for trips and visits. From local historical workshops to international residentials and theatre excursions, our pupils have thrown themselves into every opportunity to learn out in the real world.

• Stronger Attendance: A huge thank you to all our families for your support with this—our overall attendance has seen a continued increase this year. We know that pupils who are here achieve more, and seeing our classrooms full and buzzing every day is wonderful.

• Anticipating Summer Success: As our Year 11 and Year 13 students head into the final stretch before their examination results, and given the sheer determination and effort they have shown all year, we are anticipating a very strong set of exam results this summer.

Thank you, as always, for your unwavering partnership and support.

Cofion cynnes,

Mrs N Davies

Pennaeth | Headteacher

Academic Year 2025-26

Monday 20 July 2026: INSET Day 6

Academic Year 2026-27

Tuesday 1 September 2026: INSET Day 1

Monday 4 January 2027: INSET Day 2

Friday 30 April 2027: INSET Day 3

Monday 12 July 2027: INSET Day 4

Monday 19 July 2027: INSET Day 5

Tuesday 20 July 2027: INSET Day 6

Heolddu Summer Sports Scheme | Cynllun Chwaraeon Haf Heolddu

The Heolddu Summer Sports Scheme returns this summer, offering free activities for children aged 7–12 from 21 July to 28 August.

Sessions will take place at the Aberbargoed Hangar from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm on 10–13 August and 17–21 August. There are 30 free places available each day, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

The scheme is sponsored by Bargoed Town Council. Families who wish to check their eligibility for free places can contact Dale Lewis at sportcaerphilly@caerphilly.gov.uk.

Please note that a parent or carer must complete a consent form before their child can take part.

Online Safety Advice for Families | Cyngor Diogelwch Ar-lein i Deuluoedd

With the summer holidays approaching, many children will be looking forward to having more free time online, and for many, this will include gaming.

Online games can be a great way for children to have fun, connect with friends, and build confidence. However, they must understand how to stay safe online and follow the rules of the platforms they use.

Internet Matters provides free guidance to help families support children with online gaming, including understanding community rules, avoiding warnings or bans, and starting positive conversations about the games, apps, and videos they enjoy.

Families can find helpful advice and support from Internet Matters to help children have a safe and positive online experience over the summer holidays.

Help with Household Bills This Summer | Cymorth gyda Biliau'r Cartref yr Haf Hwn

The summer holidays can bring extra financial pressure as families balance the cost of keeping children entertained and fed.

Welsh Water offers a range of support that could help reduce household costs and ease some of the financial pressure during the holidays. If you think you may be eligible, we encourage you to explore the support available.

Further information can be found on the Welsh Water website: https://www.dwrcymru.com/en/help-with-your-bills

Uniform Bank | Banc Gwisg

If you would like to donate any uniforms that pupils have outgrown, please hand them in at the main reception. Your donation can help other pupils who may not have access to appropriate clothing. Additionally, if any parents or carers would like to access the uniform bank at Heolddu, please let us know. We want to ensure that every pupil has access to the clothing they need to succeed in their education. 

Gardening Project Enrichment Experience | Profiad Cyfoethogi’r Prosiect Garddio

As part of their enrichment experience, two of our PGCE students led a fantastic gardening project at Heolddu Comprehensive School.

The project was created to provide pupils with the opportunity to develop confidence, teamwork, communication, and wellbeing through practical, hands-on learning outside of the traditional classroom environment. Pupils took part in a range of activities, including designing garden spaces, planting flowers and vegetables, creating cress heads, and learning about sustainability and caring for the outdoor environment.

The project also provided opportunities for pupils to develop independence and responsibility while building positive relationships and experiencing success through achievable tasks. As part of the experience, pupils learnt how to make homemade ice cream and prepare drinks using herbs grown within the garden area.

During the enrichment experience, pupils also worked towards qualifications, including the TLM Level 2 Extended Certificate in Life, Work and Wellbeing and the RHS Level 2 Award.

To celebrate the completion of the project, a garden event was held in the newly improved garden area. Pupils planted the final plants, enjoyed the homemade ice cream they had prepared, and shared drinks made using herbs grown in the garden. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to reflect on their hard work and enjoy the space they had helped create.

The PGCE students reflected positively on the experience, highlighting the progress pupils had made and the new skills they had developed, including planting, cleaning, weeding, watering, and cooking. The project has created a valuable outdoor learning space that pupils can continue to enjoy and use in the future.

Professional Learning Offer | Cynnig Dysgu Proffesiynol

Our new professional development partnership with CCBC this academic year continues to expand targeted professional learning to strengthen curriculum planning and practitioner expertise across the region. This term, seven colleagues from across the region attended the two-day Instructional Coaching using WalkThrus training. The Head of Cymraeg and International Languages also hosted a Global Futures/International Languages session for secondary colleagues, focusing on curriculum coherence and progression in languages. These programmes will run again next academic year in addition to Building a KS3 Art and Design Curriculum that Leads to GCSE Success.

Professional Learning Coaching Programme | Rhaglen Hyfforddi a Chymorth Proffesiynol

Throughout this academic year, staff have actively engaged with the school’s coaching programme, which includes both team-based and one-to-one pedagogy coaching using a wide range of Walkthru strategies. The team coaching approach, in particular, has had a positive impact on developing cross-curricular skills and faculty pedagogies, fostering professional dialogue and supporting initiatives aimed at improving curriculum planning and raising the level of challenge within lessons.  The coaching programme has been instrumental in promoting shared learning and has enabled staff to explore and implement new pedagogical strategies to enhance pupil engagement and achievement. This impact is reflected in our Quality Assurance report, and highlighted in our recent Estyn inspection where effective teaching practices are linked to our coaching model.

Mini London Marathon and Daily Mile | Marathon Bach Llundain a'r Filltir Ddyddiol

Pupils from across the school showed fantastic determination and team spirit as they took part in the Mini London Marathon. From the very start, they demonstrated enthusiasm, resilience, and a positive attitude, encouraging one another all the way to the finish line.

It was wonderful to see so many pupils challenging themselves and celebrating their achievements together. A huge well done to everyone who took part. Your effort, perseverance, and sportsmanship made us all incredibly proud.

Pupils are also invited to take part in the Daily Mile, which takes place each morning at 8.30 am. Children should meet in The Hub before setting off for a positive and energetic start to the school day.

Sixth Form Round-Up | Crynodeb y Chweched Dosbarth

It has been a busy few months in the Sixth Form. Here's a round-up of what we have been up to.

Celebrating Sixth Form Success

We love celebrating the achievements of our Sixth Form students, and this term has been no exception.

Congratulations to Gwennan, Maci, Lucy, and Dawid on graduating from the Step Up Programme at Cardiff University. We are incredibly proud of your achievement.

We also recognised the hard work and dedication of Jay, Dani, and Brayden, who played a key role in establishing the Year 8 SEREN Debate Club. Thank you for all your efforts this year. They are very much appreciated.

The Bridge Writing Workshop

Earlier this term, we welcomed Mark Blayney from The Royal Literary Fund to work with our Year 12 students. They received expert guidance to help develop and strengthen their academic writing skills.

St John Ambulance Cymru

A big thank you to Darcey from St John Ambulance Cymru for delivering an excellent first aid awareness session. Our students learned valuable first aid skills and enjoyed putting their new knowledge into practice.

Year 6 Transition

Our newly appointed Sixth Form Leadership Team has been busy welcoming our new Year 7 pupils to Heolddu and helping to transform our outdoor areas. Thank you for all your hard work.

Year 13 Leavers

In May, we celebrated the Class of 2026 with a special leavers' assembly, followed by a leavers' meal last Friday. It was a wonderful opportunity to mark their time at Heolddu and wish them well as they move on to the next stage of their journey.

We wish all of our Year 13 leavers every success for the future and look forward to hearing about everything they achieve.

Keep up to date with all things Sixth Form by following @heolddusixthform on Instagram.

¡Vamos! Heolddu Learners Conclude Their First Year of Spanish Club | ¡Vamos! Disgyblion Heolddu yn Cwblhau Eu Blwyddyn Gyntaf yn y Clwb Sbaeneg

Heolddu learners have concluded the first year of our Club de español in which they have begun immersing themselves in the language and culture of Spain and Latin America.

Over the course of the year, learners have completed cultural investigations into Spanish painters such as Dalí and Picasso, before launching into Spanish language content. Participants are now able to express names, ages, family members, pets, likes/dislikes, where they live, and much more, using a range of key verbs. More explicit instruction on grammar was also received, with learners looking at verb conjugations and how to form different tenses. All sessions have had an emphasis on spoken Spanish and correct pronunciation. 

Pupils from all age groups with an interest in learning Spanish are welcome to join. Look out for an announcement regarding the new time and location of Spanish club as we begin the 2026/2027 academic year. ¡Hasta luego!

Engineering and Geography Work in Focus Challenge | Her Gwaith mewn Ffocws

Our Engineering and Geography Work in Focus project has got off to a great start, with Year 9 pupils taking part in an engaging and informative workshop in partnership with Viridor and Careers Wales.

During the session, pupils explored landfill sites and the challenges they present before working collaboratively to develop their own innovative solutions. The project provides a fantastic opportunity for pupils to apply their learning to real-world issues while developing their teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

We look forward to seeing the brilliant ideas our pupils produce over the coming weeks.

Year 9 Begin Work in Focus Challenge | Blwyddyn 9 yn Dechrau Her Work in Focus

Our Year 9 pupils are excited to begin a new Work in Focus challenge in partnership with Viridor and Careers Wales.

This exciting project gives pupils the opportunity to work collaboratively, develop innovative ideas, and gain valuable insight into the world of work with support from industry and Careers Wales.

We look forward to seeing the creative ideas that emerge over the coming weeks and wish all of our pupils the very best with the challenge.

Community Concert with Bargoed Community Choir | Cyngerdd Cymunedol gyda Chôr Cymunedol Bargod

At the beginning of July, a number of our students were honoured to perform at the Bargoed Community Choir's summer concert at St Margaret's Church.

The students performed solo pieces they have been developing through tuition generously funded by one of our governors, Mrs Jenn East, who is also a member of the community choir. Performing in such a welcoming setting was a fantastic opportunity, and our soloists received a very warm reception from the audience.

We are extremely grateful to Mrs East for her continued support and would like to thank Bargoed Community Choir for inviting our students to be part of such a lovely evening. We look forward to working together again at future community events.