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

Business Services Senior Co-ordinator

Durham County Council
Grade 7 £31,015 - £34,811
Are you an experienced administrator who enjoys supporting people, leading a team and making sure services run smoothly? A fantastic opportunity has Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

School Secretary

Durham County Council
£26,403 - £28,598 pro rata (pay award pending)
Required from 1st November 2026   Kirk Merrington Primary School are looking to appoint a full-time school secretary due to the retirement of the curr Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Fleet Hire Desk Assistant

Durham County Council
£27,274 - £29,542
The Fleet Operations Team in Fleet and Depot Management are looking for a Fleet Hire Desk Assistant to join their team.   To assist the Fleet Services Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Teaching Assistant

Durham County Council
£25,185 - £25,989 pro rata (pay award pending)
This role is permanent, term time only plus 2 weeks, 37 hours per week. We are looking for an experienced and qualified Teaching Assistant, who is hi Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Classroom Teacher

Durham County Council
£32,916 - £45,352 pro rata (pay award pending)
Required
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner