Delay in paedophile head teacher report sparks anger in Wales

The North Wales Safeguarding Board on Tuesday announced it would delay the publication of the long-awaited inquiry into former headteacher Neil Foden, who was convicted last year of multiple sexual offences involving four girls. Officials cited legal obligations and information-sharing considerations as the reason for the postponement and said they regret the decision. Victims’ advocates and families who cooperated with the review said the delay compounds their distress and undermines efforts to understand what went wrong.

Foden led Ysgol Friars in Bangor and later served as strategic head of Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle in Penygroes. He was jailed in 2024 for 17 years after pleading guilty to 19 sexual offences against four girls between 2019 and 2023. The inquiry, started in August 2024, was intended to examine safeguarding failures and to identify changes to prevent future abuse in schools and related settings.

Katherine Yates, who represents 22 people who allege abuse by Foden, said victims and their families have waited for answers and linked the delay to retraumatization. While noting that her clients had cooperated with the review, she said delaying the publication deprives them of clarity about what went wrong and what changes will reduce the risk of a similar case in the future. She added that many want accountability and concrete steps to safeguard others.

The safeguarding board began its work on the Foden inquiry in August 2024 and is one of five in Wales with a legal duty to carry out reviews into abuse involving children or vulnerable adults. In a statement, the board acknowledged the delay as a “huge disappointment” to all involved, particularly the women and children at the heart of the review, and reaffirmed its commitment to prioritizing the wellbeing of victims while continuing to advance the inquiry.

A BBC Wales investigation published after Foden’s conviction raised new questions, suggesting he may have abused children for more than four decades, with estimates of potential victims expanding beyond the four confirmed cases. Yates said the wider scope underscores the need for timely publication of findings to inform protective measures and reforms across institutions that work with young people.

Gwynedd Council said it only learned of the delay late on Tuesday afternoon and was awaiting further clarification from the safeguarding board. The council emphasized it would cooperate with any requests from the inquiry and continue to support victims and their families as the process unfolds.

The delay comes amid ongoing debates over how swiftly safeguarding reviews should be published in Wales and how findings translate into practical changes in schools, local authorities, and safeguarding networks. Officials stressed that the wellbeing of victims remains the priority and that the inquiry’s conclusions are intended to improve protections and prevent recurrence, even as the timetable remains unsettled.