Failure on paedophile school head 'damages trust'

Neil Foden was convicted of 12 counts of sexual activity with a child, and two of sexual activity with a child while he was in a position of trust

A council's failure fully to investigate concerns about a paedophile head teacher has undermined the public's trust in child protection measures, councillors have been told.

Neil Foden, 66, from Old Colwyn in Conwy county, was jailed for 17 years after a jury found him guilty of 19 sexual abuse charges involving four girls over a four-year period.

Reports to the local council, Cyngor Gwynedd, that Foden was acting inappropriately with a child were not pursued, a scrutiny committee found, leaving parents with "little confidence" in the system.

The council said it "recognises and fully understands parents' concerns" and would "cooperate fully" with an independent child practice review.

Over the coming months the review will consider the role of agencies, including the local authority.

Foden became head of Ysgol Friars in Bangor in 1997 and was also strategic head of Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle secondary school in Penygroes.

During his trial it emerged that a number of people told the council there were concerns about Foden's closeness with one child.

One email went to the council's head of education at the time, Garem Jackson, who was told by Foden that the concerns were "over-dramatic".

No formal investigation was carried out, which the judge in the trial called "very concerning".

Mr Jackson said in an earlier statement he would cooperate with the review.

He added: "Schools within Gwynedd council have clear procedures in place to report safeguarding concerns through their designated safeguarding officer to children’s services.

“In rare circumstances where concerns were raised directly with me, I reported them to the appropriate officer whose advice I would follow as I did in this case.”

The council's current head of education, Gwern ap Rhisiart, told the education and economy scrutiny committee that safeguarding was a "priority" for the department.

But Sharon Roberts, representing Arfon's parents and governors on the committee, called for an "interactive infographic" to be made showing "there is a robust process in place".

She said: "Accept how little confidence there is out there among parents I speak to, everyone has been shocked by what has happened."

Committee chair Cai Larsen said despite assurances of a robust system, "the public's faith in the system has unfortunately been undermined".

The council said following Foden's "appalling crimes" the North Wales Safeguarding Board had begun a review to "identify what lessons are to be learned and what improvements need to be introduced to ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable children and prevent similar cases from happening again".

"We will continue to turn every stone to ensure that the board gets a full picture of the actions and arrangements of our services and we will respond immediately to any recommendations or lessons that are highlighted," the council added.