Neil Foden, 66, has beenA paedophile headteacher jailed for 17 years for abusing four girls was 'hiding in plain sight', parents say - as officials were condemned for letting him continue to teach and get another top job, despite bullying and safeguarding concerns.
It was only when a victim, known in court as Child A, came forward with revelations about their 'romantic relationship' and his text messages to her, that Foden was detained by police at the school in September 2023. He had previously been given a second role as a short-term so-called 'super-head' of another school, Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, despite earlier allegations of bullying made against him by Ysgol Friars staff.
He told the BBC: 'He was a trusted headteacher, but it’s been a cover, it’s been a vehicle for him to hide in plain sight – absolutely unsuspected, unbeknown, never even thought about to all the people who were close to him. Foden's trial heard that concerns about his behaviour were raised four years before his arrest, with Gwynedd Council's then-director of education Garem Jackson
In a statement, Mr Jackson has now said: 'In rare concerns 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.An independent child practice is now being held looking at lessons to be learned. She said of Foden's arrest: 'When I heard the news, I was shocked. And then over the months I have been concerned, did we miss something? Did I, as the governor with responsibility, miss something? And that is really upsetting.
'Details of the lessons to be learnt will become apparent when the North Wales Safeguarding Board review reports, and I commit to implementing whatever recommendations they make. Headteacher Neil Foden, 66, who a judge said used young girls to satisfy his 'perverted desires', had pleaded not guilty to the 20 charges he faced at Mold Crown Court
MailOnline has approached the council for further comment on previous concerns raised about Foden's behaviour. He 'should have appreciated the need for an independent and balanced investigation' before starting disciplinary proceedings, it was found, though four other allegations were not proved.
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