Lessons not learnt from report into sex abuse teacher - parent

The Clywch report found Owen had sexually abused pupils at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen over a number of years

Lessons from a report into a serial child sex abuser published more than 20 years ago have not been learned, a victim's mother says, following a review this week into paedophile head teacher Neil Foden.

Lynne Phillips, whose input was instrumental to 2004's Clywch report which identified failures in investigating teacher John Owen's abuse, said she "couldn't believe" what she was hearing when news of Foden's offending was broadcast.

"Clywch means listen. And people haven't listened," she said.

Education secretary Lynne Neagle said the Welsh government had implemented all of Clwych's recommendations, but admitted it "needs to do more" to monitor policies relating to child safeguarding.

On Tuesday, a report into paedophile head teacher Neil Foden, who was jailed for 17 years in 2024, highlighted 52 missed opportunities that could have prevented his offending while working with children in north Wales.

It came more than two decades since the Clywch report by Wales' first children's commissioner found teacher John Owen had sexually abused pupils over a number of years at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen, near Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The report investigated Owen's crimes and made a series of recommendations which aimed to "assist in reducing the risk of children being abused in the future".

The drama teacher, Welsh language author and playwright had been charged with five counts of indecent assault, but was found dead in a caravan in Trecco Bay, Porthcawl, Bridgend county, the day before his trial was due to start in 2001.

Ms Phillips said she felt people "hadn't listened" to the Clywch report.

Ms Philips said: "I'd been through the same thing years ago and it was happening again. Why?

"It's the same - the two men. I was totally gobsmacked because the details were so similar."

The Our Bravery Brought Justice report into Foden's offending has an annex devoted to similarities with Owen's offending, with reviewers noting "it is appalling that the recommendations of this review reflect those of Clywch so closely and that 20 years later the key issues still have not been resolved or acted upon".

Neil Foden was jailed for 17 years for a string of sexual abuse offences

His Honour Nicholas Cooke KC, a former Deputy High Court judge and counsel to the Clywch inquiry, called for a national audit to ensure the 2004 report and its recommendations "haven't gone to waste as it's been acquiring cobwebs".

"History keeps repeating itself," he said.

"Inquiries keep making recommendations but they're only as effective as the consciousness of the people who should take heed of them in subsequent years.

"What I'd like to know, and what I think the public has a right to know, is on a national scale was there adequate monitoring and auditing - and I will add, updating."

Nicholas Cooke KC called for a national audit to ensure the report and its recommendations "haven't gone to waste".

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."

It added that it would "further reinforce our work with partners to ensure that process and procedures are consistently and rigorously followed".

"Our Strengthening Safeguarding Governance Review will further ensure that safeguarding governance systems remain robust, resilient, and fit for purpose."