There were 52 'missed opportunities' for authorities to stop padeophile Neil Foden, according to a new report.

The disgraced ex-headteacher is serving a 17-year jail sentence after he was found guilty of sexually abusing girls between 2019 and 2023.

A long-awaited child practice review, found there were "major weaknesses" in safeguarding from Ysgol Friars in Bangor, the school's governors and from Cyngor Gwynedd.

The North Wales Safeguarding Board's report, 'Our Bravery Brought Justice', was published on Tuesday, following a last-minute delay in September.

It examined the multi-agency safeguarding response, prior to Foden’s arrest in September 2023.

The chair of the review, Jan Pickles, said: "Schools should be safe places for children. As parents and carers, we put our trust in these institutions to keep our children safe."

"This was not the case for some children at Ysgol Friars. Although many staff worked very hard to educate and protect children there were major weaknesses within the safeguarding arrangements - within the school - within the governors and within the local authority."

"These weaknesses both in the roles and structures were put in place by Foden and then cruelly exploited to allow him to harm children whenever he chose."

"Safeguarding children is a multi-agency responsibility and requires that all agencies contribute to keep children safe -to follow the agreed legislation, guidance and policies our safeguarding arrangements. Tragically, in this case those arrangements failed."

"A review of this nature is about learning and not blame the responsibility for the harm that was caused to these young people who were already struggling lies with Neil Foden, he targeted children he knew who were vulnerable."

"He isolated them from their peers from the protection of staff those staff who could and should have afforded them protection. Foden was a sophisticated and controlling paedophile."

"He created a culture which enabled his offending in plain sight, the checks and balances that we as a society expect from the safeguarding and child protection system simply were not there. Foden manipulated them to give him free reign."

"We know from listening to victims that speaking up calling out abuse and seeking help is for many an impossible task, that is why many victims keep these hideous secrets until they are adults and some never speak out taking them to their grave."

"The courage shown by these young people should be an example to us all."

"We train professionals who work with children to identify the signs and indicators of child sexual abuse. We as a responsible adult have a duty to think the unthinkable and act to protect children regardless of the risks to our jobs - at Ysgol Friars, this did not happen."

"Children showed their distress in many different ways. Foden actively sort out any opportunity to be alone with children in his car - in his office with the door shut - taking them to medical appointments all of which should have been red flags."

"Each one of them a missed opportunity. In this review, we have identified over 50 missed opportunities to intervene and to stop him."

"The recommendations are designed to bring about the most significant change in safeguarding in schools in Wales in a generation."

"They are ambitious and were generated in part by the victims - informed with the insight of the young people who were harmed."

"The victims have shown bravery and strength working with the review after a gruelling trial so that we could learn whatever lessons we could to protect other children. I would like to thanks them from the bottom of my heart."

"The name of the review was chosen by one of their number and it is now our duty as adults, professionals and politicians to rise to their challenge to do all that is within our power to prevent this from happening again, not call for yet more inquiries. Now is the time to act."

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A spokesperson for Cyngor Gwynedd, which is carrying out its own review into Foden's crimes, said: "Cyngor Gwynedd has welcomed the publication of ‘Our Bravery Brought Justice’, the North Wales Safeguarding Board’s report in response to the crimes of Neil Foden."

"The council accepts all the findings of the Child Practice Review Report; takes responsibility for the failures that are highlighted; apologises unreservedly to all victims and commits to continue to work to improve safeguarding arrangements in the county's schools."

"In January 2025, in response to these crimes, Cyngor Gwynedd adopted an action plan to strengthen procedures in schools and within council services and a Board was established to oversee this vital work."

Nia Jeffreys, leader of Cyngor Gwynedd said: "This has been a shocking case that has caused so much harm to children."

"We are saddened by the details that have been highlighted by the independent reviewers and we take responsibility for the mistakes and missed opportunities to stop Neil Foden."

"On behalf of the council, I apologise to all those who have suffered and pay tribute to their courage and strength."

"The task of putting the situation right locally has begun. To drive this critical work forward, we have established a Programme Board chaired by Professor Sally Holland, an authority on social care and a former Children's Commissioner for Wales."

"Child protection experts from several national organisations are also present at all board meetings as observers, providing valuable input."

“We will go through the report with a fine-tooth comb to identify what further steps need to be taken so that mistakes are not repeated. We will not hide from our responsibility to do whatever it takes to protect children – now and into the future."

Deputy leader Menna Trenholme, who is also the cabinet member for children, added: "I welcome the report and I state my admiration of the victims and survivors, and also thank them for their resilience."

“Following the publication of the 'Our Bravery Brought Justice' report we are committed to improving and strengthening our safeguarding arrangements for the sake of all children in Gwynedd.”

Cllr Dewi Jones, cabinet member for education, said: "We will never forget the harm and far-reaching effect that this has had on the lives of children who should have been safe at school."

“We cannot change the past, but we will continue to work with the new leadership and governors of Ysgol Friars to support the school community to cope with what has happened."

“We are committed to learning from this horrendous situation and ensuring that Gwynedd schools are safe and supportive of learners and staff. We have already made progress in this respect and our local arrangements are much more robust than they were before the offender was arrested."

"There is still much to be done, and we will act on all further guidance arising from the Our Bravery Brought Justice report."

“The challenge for the Education Department is to ensure that lessons are learned so that deceptive individuals can never again take advantage of weaknesses in local and national systems and protocols."

The council's chief executive Dafydd Gibbard said: “The responsibility for many of the failures highlighted in this report lie with Cyngor Gwynedd and we sincerely apologise to all the victims for that. We pay tribute to them for their courage and strength."

“As painful as this report is to read, we welcome it and accept all its conclusions and recommendations."

“In situations where an organisation is under scrutiny, there is sometimes a tendency to be defensive. Today, I assure you that will not be the case with Cyngor Gwynedd. We will not shirk our responsibility to do all that is needed to protect children now and into the future."

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In a statement from North Wales Police, assistant chief constable Gareth Evans said: "Firstly, I would once again recognise the bravery and strength of the young people who came forward and spoke out against Neil Foden’s appalling crimes."

"Their courageous actions, throughout the criminal investigation and now this review, have no doubt prevented further victims of Foden’s abuse. They also enabled our dedicated team of officers to leave no stone unturned to ensure he faced justice for his offending."

“However, we recognise there were missed opportunities to safeguard these young people through the multi-agency safeguarding response and we apologise for this."

"It is inconceivable that these children experienced such harm at the hands of someone who should have protected and safeguarded them."

"It is clear that over many years Neil Foden manipulated systems, processes and those around him, including professionals, to facilitate his abhorrent crimes against the most vulnerable of children."

"His actions have doubtless resulted in a long-term impact on all those young people who witnessed and were subjected to his behaviour over a long period of time.

"Having proactively sought this Child Practice Review, we welcome its publication today and fully support the findings."

"We have played an active role in the process and are thankful to the review team for their thorough investigation."

"Despite being no specific recommendations for North Wales Police, this is an opportunity for us to enhance our multi-agency safeguarding response and therefore we are committed to working with our partners to ensure the range of recommendations are fully implemented."

"We will do everything we can to ensure the safeguarding of young people in North Wales is at the heart of our work and our paramount consideration."

"We are committed to following any further line of enquiry to shine a light on Foden’s criminality."

"I would urge anyone who experienced abuse at the hands of Neil Foden, or anyone who has wider concerns about a child’s safety to make a report to the police. We will listen to you, support you and fully investigate."

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Speaking for the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Angela Wood, executive director for nursing and midwifery, said: "As a key partner of the North Wales Safeguarding Board, the health board is extremely sorry for what these young people have experienced and we recognise the strength they have shown to speak out."

“Safeguarding vulnerable children and young people is a fundamental priority for the health board."

"This Child Practice Review evidences both the complexity of the work carried out and the scrutiny which has taken place to support its findings. It reinforces how important those safeguarding conversations are and the importance of good communication mechanisms when working with children, young people and our partner agencies."

“The review provides key learning for all agencies and the Health Board both accepts and will fully implement the two recommendations specific to the organisation. Work towards doing this has already started and will strengthen the full range of safeguarding measures already in place."

“We will also fully support and engage with our partners and the North Wales Safeguarding Board to implement the wider recommendations identified in this review."

"We challenge ourselves to continually strive to improve our safeguarding interventions throughout the organisation. It is crucial that all partners learn from this review and work closely together to ensure the improvements are made at pace."

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Jenny Williams and Nicola Stubbins, co-chairs of the North Wales Safeguarding Board, added: “On behalf of the North Wales Safeguarding Board and all key agencies who are involved in this review, we offer our sincerest apology to the victims and we recognise that things should have been done differently by those responsible for safeguarding children.”

“The North Wales Safeguarding Board has the statutory responsibility to carry out child practice reviews in cases when abuse or neglect of a child is known or suspected."

"Safeguarding partners serve vulnerable children and adults to provide them with the protection from harm, the care and support to ensure they are safe and well."

"When a distressing case like this happens, it is essential that we fully understand whether there are any further measures we need to take to improve or strengthen our safeguarding arrangements."

"It was with the deepest of regrets that the board had to take the difficult decision to delay publication of the the child practice review, ‘Our Bravery Brought Justice’, but we are pleased to be able to publish today."

"The victims and their families who were harmed by Foden are at the heart of this review and the team wishes to acknowledge their incredible bravery and strength in participating to ensure others are protected in the future."

“It is vitally important that we fully understand the circumstances that preceded Foden’s offending and the role of our services so we can ensure our safeguarding arrangements are as effective as possible."