Safeguarding Arrangements in Gwynedd Schools Still Lacking...

Cyngor Gwynedd have finally published their -
Scrutiny Investigation Report into Safeguarding Arrangements in Schools

https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/documents/s50904/Safeguarding%20Arrangements%20in%20Schools%20Scrutiny%20Investigation%20Report-.pdf

A reminder that this investigation was initiated by the Education and Economy Scrutiny committee in early 2025, yet makes no mention of the committee's own failings and missed opportunities to stop Neil Foden. 

Wasn't Dewi Jones, the cabinet member for Education, originally part of the investigation? 
Did he excuse himself..?

This report was intended to be published in 2025, but had to be delayed because the investigating team had not included the voice of the child...  

The children's voice...
It is of high concern that the council did not utilise the recognised 'provider' due to the provider having fears that the council's 'remit' did not go far enough.

Ignoring the concerns of the independent provider, cyngor Gwynedd chose instead to appoint Dr Ceryl Teleri Davies, a former senior officer within the council's SS department - on the initial remit that others had considered insufficient.

Only 57 pupils were engaged...
Her 'Pupil Voice Report' can be found in appendix 7 here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/s50889/Appendices.pdf

The schools chosen by the council for the sample were - 

Davies includes four bite sized quotes from the children...

Why Ysgol Friars, and Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle (the main schools where Foden was found abusing) were not included is not known...

The most vulnerable children...
Ysgol Pendalar in Caernarfon is a special school yet Davies does not give any detail of how these children were engaged with. There is no information to what measures are in place for ALN/disabled or how they are kept safe from predators and abuse...

What of the 21%  of children in mainstream schools with ALN? 
From reading the report there is no mention of how these pupils are engaged with in an appropriate manner and how their understanding is checked. How are pupils with speech and language and other communication issues supported in all of this?

Protect the higher pay-grades...
A reminder that everyone knew Neil Foden was an abusive bully...
Safeguarding arrangements did not fail - the toxic culture within schools and the council protected him from censure.

The Ffordd Gwynedd way...
The Safeguarding Arrangements report is not comprehensive and like many of the documents written by cyngor Gwynedd appears to be yet another exercise in tick boxing and marking the officers homework...

The report is to be presented to the Education and Economy Scrutiny committee on the 14th, July, 2026. The webcast of the meeting will be found here - 
 https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1109262

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council - and its schools...