Gwynedd Council - #NotMyShame ?

Cyngor Gwynedd held a full council meeting on the 1st, May, 2025.The agenda pack can be found here – https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//mgChooseDocPack.aspx?ID=5167

The meeting passed a motion raised by councillor Beca Brown.

The #NotMyShame motion was in response to the actions of paedophile headteacher, Neil Foden.Brown was the former cabinet member for Education, who resigned last year in protest at the council leader’s handling of the matter and was vocal in calling for a full public inquiry…

Brown mentioned that child abuse can happen ‘…more often than not in their own homes.’

Gwynedd has a long history of child abuse and many of the abusers have been those in a position of trust. A reminder that cyngor Gwynedd has recently reported an increase in allegations against those in a position of trust. 

But what happens when someone blows the whistle? In 2019, the then head of education, Garem Jackson, was contacted by a teacher with concerns of Foden’s closeness to children. After seeking advice from a safeguarding officer, Jackson simply had a chat with Foden about his behaviour and also outed the whistleblower to him.

A reminder that the council sacked a social worker who blew the whistle on the last child sexual abuse scandal. 

A recent survey of Gwynedd staff revealed many would NOT blow the whistle on wrongdoing – including sexual abuse. Fear of retribution…? Is this the ‘culture’ that the executive officers say must change…? It has never been explained what the culture was that needed to change…

There were other opportunities to stop Foden. Were claims of undeserved examination passes at Ysgol Friars investigated?Judgements from Employment Tribunals are published online and it is presumed that senior officers would have knowledge of the case as well as the school governors.

Then there was a ruling against Foden for unprofessional conduct…There was also the video of Foden allegedly showing him grabbing a pupil by the scruff of the neck. What action did Garem Jackson and the school governors at Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle take?

Councillors of Gwynedd’s Education and Economy Scrutiny committee did raise this issue at one meeting but Jackson refused to answer though he did promise the committee an update. (Gwynedd officers are sometimes reluctant to give information within public meetings and some councillors are given more details afterwards)

So were committee members informed? What actions did members and the then cabinet member for Education take?The committee is currently investigating Foden and their report should be completed soon.

Many will find it … distasteful that the Not My Shame campaign flag is to be flown above the heads of a council who could and should have stopped Foden years ago. 

Councillors could be asking for the Woods report to be published. They could also ask for the Canolfan Brynffynnon reports.

The webcast of the meeting can be found here - https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/981083

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council…