Neil Foden, the paedophile headteacher, who was in charge of Ysgol Friars, Bangor and Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle in Penygroes was arrested in September, 2023 and jailed in 2024.
Many people in Gwynedd, including some councillors are of the belief that Foden was a one off. Abuse of children, especially of those in care in north Wales has been going on for decades.
The North Wales Child Abuse scandal...
Where children were abused in 'care' homes across Gwynedd, Clywd
This led to the Waterhouse inquiry and the Lost In Care Report, published in 2000.
The Lost In Care report was reviewed in 2010 -
'Lost in Care abuse report recommendations reviewed'
Sir Ronald will speak with health and social work professionals about the lessons learned and analyse whether local authorities across Wales are now developing and implementing effective care plans for looked-after children.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11884852
In 2012, the scandal was raised by the government in Westminster -
Theresa May, then Home Secretary, gave a statement -
The recommendation was that there should not be a public inquiry but an
examination of the work of private care homes and the social service
departments in Gwynedd and Clwyd Councils.
This work revealed not only shortcomings in the protection of vulnerable
children, but that the shortcomings had persisted even after the police
investigation and subsequent prosecutions.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/historic-allegations-of-child-abuse-in-north-wales-home-secretarys-statement
Carwyn Jones, then First Minister for Wales, also gave a statement -
It made extensive recommendations for improving child protection, many
of which were subsequently implemented by the Welsh Government. The
Prime Minister has announced an inquiry to examine the extent to which
the Waterhouse Report did what it was supposed to do.
https://www.gov.wales/written-statement-north-wales-child-abuse-allegations
Not forgetting Operation Pallial -
In November 2012, Operation Pallial was set up to examine specific
allegations of past child abuse in north Wales. This report looks at the
early processes established by OperationPallial, including
communications work, support for survivors, transition and the
implications on children in present care settings in Wales -
https://www.childcomwales.org.uk/2015/01/learning-the-lessons-operation-pallial/
Then there was the Macur Review laid before Parliament in 2016, with Plaid MP, Liz Saville Roberts leading the discussion -
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2016-0070/
'Lessons not learnt' from report into sex abuse teacher.
The Welsh government said:
"The recommendations from the Clywch report were implemented, and
consistent national policies and procedures to safeguard children were
introduced.
"The Our
Bravery Brought Justice review found that despite there being clear
processes in place, including those implemented following Clywch, there
was a failure to apply them properly."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3kexe2eeko
The Clywch report, from 2004, involved teacher, John Owen, who sexually abused pupils at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen, near Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf.
But how is it that so many senior people in Gwynedd failed to follow procedures?
Worse still - many simply ignored concerns raised...
What of the two
police officers, Essie Ahari and Keith Horton, then chair and vice chair of the school governors at Ysgol Friars?
What of the senior officer within Gwynedd's legal department who sat in on the safeguarding meeting re Neil Foden in 2019?
Sexual harassment in schools...
Delyth Lloyd Griffiths, was the senior safeguarding officer within the Education department before becoming a councillor in 2022.
Griffiths is named as the relevant officer in a report entitled 'Sexual harassment in schools' discussed at the Education/Economy scrutiny committee on the 8th, February, 2022. This report was in response to an Estyn report dated 2021 - 'We do not tell our teachers'
The report can be found in the agenda pack for the meeting here -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/documents/g4378/Public%20reports%20pack%2008th-Feb-2022%2013.30%20Education%20and%20Economy%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10
Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle...
This committee also failed the children by not taking action against Foden when the video of him appearing to grab a pupil by the scruff of the neck appeared online. The matter was raised at the meeting and answers were promised for the next scrutiny committee.
The next meeting scheduled for the 31, March, 2022 was cancelled.
Sshh...
The council elections in May, 2022, meant a new scrutiny committee was formed.
Five members sat on both the old and the new committees - they are Olaf Cai Larsen, Beth Lawton, Dewi Owen, Paul Rowlinson and Colette Owen (co-optee)
It is believed that the alleged assault by Foden was never mentioned again...
Since Foden's arrest in 2023, cyngor Gwynedd have suspended 3 members of school staff from Friars.
Two other staff at different schools have also been suspended.
No further details have been released by the council or NWP.
Extended Child Practice Review...
Were all of the abused children receiving 'care' from the council ?
Were any in foster care?
The head and assistant head of the children's SS are still 'absent from work'.
A Statutory Public Inquiry...
Dafydd Gibbard, ceo of the council, told a meeting in February, that a reply to the request for a public inquiry has been received from Welsh government but he has not yet shared the response...
Without accountability, the abuse will continue...
Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...
