Ellie Ames 08 August 2024

Family to sue council over paedophile former headteacher

Family to sue council over paedophile former headteacher image
Image: North Wales Police

A family whose child was subjected to emotional and physical abuse by former headteacher and paedophile Neil Foden is taking legal action against Gwynedd Council.

In May, Foden was convicted of 19 offences involving the abuse of four girls between 2019 and 2023. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

Foden was the deputy head of Ysgol Friars School from 1989 before being promoted to headteacher in 1997.

During the trial at Mold Crown Court, it was heard that a teacher raised concerns with the council’s then director of education, Garem Jackson, in 2019 about Foden meeting teenagers alone, but the council did not formally investigate.

Solicitor Katherine Yates said: ‘This case raises a lot of questions.

‘There seems to be a long history of complaints against Foden, so why wasn’t anything done sooner?’

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: ‘We have been appalled by the nature of the crimes committed by Neil Foden and our thoughts continue to be with the victims and their families at this difficult time.’

The local authority said the North Wales Safeguarding Board had begun a review to identify necessary improvements and the lessons that should be learned, adding that it would respond to these immediately.

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know image

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know

Councils and mayors are to be handed a central role in developing skills pipelines for local industries, as the Government unveils what it calls a ‘fundamental change’ to the education system aimed at tackling youth unemployment. Here's what council leaders and officers need to know.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Principal Public Protection Officer

Middlesbrough Council
£45,091 - £50,269
We have an exciting role on offer as a Principal Public Protection Officer in our new Empty Properties team in the Public Protection service. Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: Middlesbrough Council

Travel Trainer (Ealing)

Essex County Council
£25959.0000 - £28621.0000 per annum
Travel Trainer (Ealing)Permanent, Full Time£25,959 up to £28,621 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Travel Trainer (Ealing)

Essex County Council
£25959.00 - £28621.00 per annum
Travel Trainer (Ealing)Permanent, Full Time£25,959 up to £28,621 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Collections Manager

Middlesbrough Council
£33,699 - £35,412
Are you passionate about heritage and the stories museums can tell? Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: Middlesbrough Council

Social Worker

Durham County Council
£35,412 - £39,152 (pre-progression) / £40,777 - £45,091 (post-progression). Pay award pending.
Do you want to support parents to achieve meaningful and sustainable change and help more children to remain safely within their birth families?   We Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner