We are delighted to advertise two exciting opportunities to join our friendly team at our lovely small rural school, set in the heart of Cilcain.

Current Vacancies

Cleaner

Caretaker

We are looking for reliable, hardworking individuals who would enjoy being part of our welcoming school community and helping to maintain a safe, clean, and caring environment for our pupils and staff.

Further details and application forms can be found here:
Apply for the positions here

Closing date for applications: 19th June

We look forward to hearing from you.

Small Cilcain primary school showcases its unique outdoor education offer with mountain hike for Years 2-6

Pupils at Ysgol y Foel proved there’s no limit to what a small school can achieve when they hiked to the summit of Moel Famau and back on Thursday 14th May.

Years 2 to 6 walked from the school gates, through the Clwydian Range, all the way to the summit of Moel Famau, where they enjoyed a picnic with panoramic views stretching across the Wirral, Lancashire, and the Peak District. They then walked back to school, completing the full circular route in a single day.

The trip was led by Ysgol y Foel staff and supported by Rangers Saul, Raz, and Hannah from the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley team, based at Loggerheads Country Park. The rangers helped pupils identify local flora and fauna, sharing fascinating facts about what’s on their doorstep and what’s edible or useful. The children were excited to spot Star of Bethlehem, a plant that is relatively rare in the area, and learned that nettles were once used to make tea, uniforms, and twine during the war.

The walk built on the school’s ‘Nature Explorers’ topic this term. Pupils have already visited local farms and parks, including a trip to Loggerheads Country Park last week where they identified plants and flowers and went pond dipping. The school has formed a strong relationship with the Rangers and plans to collaborate further in the future.

“The Rangers were really impressed with our children’s knowledge and their enthusiasm for learning about the natural world around them,” said Teacher, Amanda Walker, who has been at the heart of the school since 1996.

Outdoor education at the heart of school life

Ysgol y Foel is a small, community-focused school in the village of Cilcain, nestled in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With small class sizes and a strong staff-to-pupil ratio, the school uses its rural setting every week for forest school, fieldwork, and outdoor learning.

“At Ysgol y Foel, the outdoors isn’t an add-on – it’s part of how we teach,” said Headteacher, Emma O’Neill. “Trips like this give children real experiences that build confidence, teamwork, resilience, and a love of learning that you can’t get from a textbook or by sitting at a desk in a classroom. Health and wellbeing is always a key priority for our pupils, and having the opportunity to walk and learn in such a beautiful area makes a real difference.”

Why parents choose a smaller school

With fewer pupils per class, Ysgol y Foel offers:

– Individual attention – Teachers know every child and can tailor learning to their needs.

– Strong community feel – Older and younger pupils learn alongside each other, building confidence and friendships.

– Daily access to nature – Lessons regularly take place outside in the Clwydian Hills, giving children space to move, explore, and develop practical skills.

Chair of Governors, Hannah Mitchell, added: “In recent years our school has attracted a number of families from outside of the immediate area due to the fantastic outdoor learning experiences. The staff do a brilliant job of nurturing all children in a really inclusive environment.”

Cilcain itself is a historic village known for its community spirit, local walks, and proximity to Loggerheads Country Park and Moel Famau, Wales’ most climbed hill. The school’s location makes it ideal for families who value outdoor learning alongside a strong academic foundation.

Outdoor Learning Flourishes at Ysgol Y Foel 

Just outside Mold, the pupils of Ysgol Y Foel have been embracing the great outdoors in an inspiring and imaginative way, bringing the Curriculum for Wales to life through hands-on experiences in nature. 

Since September, Thursdays have taken on a special significance, with children eagerly taking part in their weekly “Fun in the Thicket” sessions. These Forest School adventures have become a cornerstone of school life, offering pupils the chance to explore, create, and learn beyond the traditional classroom walls. 

As part of their Dreams and Goals JIGSAW sessions, learners have immersed themselves in creative outdoor projects—constructing dream locations in the school grounds, weaving delicate dreamcatchers, and crafting whimsical “leaf families.” These moments of creativity have been paired with simple pleasures, such as toasting marshmallows over an open fire, fostering both imagination and a sense of togetherness. 

A structured three-week rotation has ensured pupils develop practical life skills. Children have confidently learned fire-lighting techniques, practised peeling and chopping, and explored traditional crafts by making pomanders. Using apples harvested from the school garden, they created delicious toffee apples , alongside garlic and focaccia breadsticks cooked on carefully whittled sticks over their forest fire. 

Safety and responsibility have also been key priorities. Pupils have learned how to deliver safety talks on the use of bow saws before applying their knowledge to create coasters and festive decorations, later sold at the school’s Christmas craft fair. Culinary creativity has continued outdoors, with pupils preparing pizzas and toasties using their spreading and cutting skills, all cooked over an open flame in their forest school area. 

Seasonal topics have further enriched learning. During the spring “Wonderful World” theme, children crafted Japanese and Welsh landmarks and carved traditional love spoons to celebrate Santes Dwynwen. In a burst of winter excitement, they designed and built their own bobsleighs and sleigh runs to mark the Winter Olympics. 

Cultural celebrations have also been brought vividly to life. For Chinese New Year, pupils made hobby horses to celebrate the Year of the Horse, culminating in a lively parade. They even cooked noodles over the fire, enjoying them with prawn crackers in a truly memorable feast. 

The school community has not been forgotten. Visits to the local Millennium Wood have allowed children to engage in timeless activities such as playing Pooh sticks, alongside the much-anticipated annual egg rolling competition. Meanwhile, Mother’s Day was marked with heartfelt creations—glass jar decorations filled with daffodils grown by the pupils themselves—followed by a well-earned treat of custard and biscuits cooked over the fire. 

Staff at Ysgol Y Foel emphasise that outdoor learning is far more than an enjoyable addition to the timetable. It plays a vital role in enriching the curriculum, deepening understanding, and nurturing essential life skills. Learning in the natural environment encourages curiosity, resilience, teamwork, and independence, while also offering significant health benefits. Fresh air, physical activity, and time spent in green spaces have been shown to improve both mental wellbeing and physical fitness, helping children to feel more focused, balanced, and engaged. 

Through mud, fire, creativity, and laughter, the pupils of Ysgol Y Foel are discovering that some of the most powerful learning happens not at a desk—but beneath the open sky. 

Good morning/ Bore da,

Year 5 & 6 had a fantastic time taking part in the Rural Schools Dodgeball Festival at Ysgol Terrig. They played with great enthusiasm, showed excellent teamwork, and represented the school superbly. We are very proud of them!

Good morning/ Bore da,

Please see below for free swimming sessions for young people aged 16 and under

Dear Parents and Carers,

Due to the deteriorating weather conditions, there will be no Breakfast Club tomorrow morning. This will allow us time to assess conditions overnight and make appropriate decisions to ensure everyone’s safety.

We will provide a further update as soon as possible regarding arrangements for the rest of the school day.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Dear Parent/Guardian/Annwyl Rieni/Gwarchodwyr,

Good afternoon/ Prynhawn da

Please see the latest update from Clare Hommard (Chief Officer of Education):

Please find below an update on the weather over the next 48 hours ahead of Storm Goretti.

From 17:00 hours on Thursday (8th January) until 12:00 hours on Friday (9th January), Flintshire is covered by a yellow weather warning for Snow

Storm Goretti is likely to bring heavy snow leading to disruption and difficult travelling conditions later Thursday and into Friday

Rain, associated with Storm Goretti, will spread north eastwards across the warning area through Thursday afternoon and evening, transitioning to snow fairly widely overnight and into Friday.

Snow initially will begin to accumulate across hills in Wales and then increasingly to lower levels overnight. Whilst not all areas may see accumulating snow, accumulations of 5-10 cm are likely quite widely, with scope for 15-25 cm in places, especially on some hills above 200 metres elevation. There is a chance of 30 cm accumulating over high ground in Wales. 

There is some uncertainty over the exact track of Storm Goretti, which will influence the locations most likely to see disruptive snow. Amounts of snow will also depend quite heavily on both elevation and the intensity of precipitation, and as this becomes somewhat lighter into Friday this will lead to an awkward mix of rain, sleet and snow, gradually clearing away to the east. Therefore, there is likely to be a lot of variation, even over relatively short distances.

We will notify parents if the school is closed. We advise that you have a contingency plan in place should a closure occur.

Please ensure you regularly check the following channels for the most up-to-date information:

A big thank you to everyone wo came to our concert at St Mary’s church Cilcain. We hoped you enjoyed our production of Whoops -a-Daisy Angel and the Craft fair. 

Good morning/ Bore da,

Please find attached  the next Messy Church session, at Pontyblyddyn Church.