THE chair and deputy chair of the board of governors at Ysgol Friars, Bangor have stepped down from their roles with immediate effect.

Essi Ahari (chair) and Keith Horton (deputy chair) are no longer members of the governing body of the school, which Neil Foden was headteacher at prior to him being convicted after trial of 19 sexual offences last month.

The school’s website also now shows no members of the governing body representing its staff or Gwynedd Council, and only five “parents” and one “community” representatives.

This removal of names, the council said, was done while its education department reviews its representation on the school’s board of governors.

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Foden, 66, of Gwynant, Old Colwyn, will be sentenced on July 1 after being found guilty of 19 charges, committed against four different victims.

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “We can confirm that both Mr Essi Ahari and Mr Keith Horton have stepped down as chair and deputy chair respectively of Ysgol Friars’ board of governors, with immediate effect.

“We have expressed our thanks to them for their service to the school.

“The council’s education department are supporting the board as they move ahead to select a new chair and deputy chair.

“Ysgol Friars continues to be supported by education officers, including ensuring that the school has robust governance for the future.

“With this in mind, the education department is reviewing its representation on Ysgol Friars’ board of governors to see whether it should be bolstered.

“While this review is going on, membership details on the school’s website have been removed for the time being.

“We assure parents and guardians that the school continues to be supported fully whilst any changes are being made.”

Following Foden’s convictions, the North Wales Safeguarding Board (NWSB) said it would undertake a Child Practice Review.

Jenny Williams, chair of the NWSB, said: “This report will highlight learning from the case, areas of good practice and recommendations in order to improve future safeguarding practice.

“It is a vital step in protecting vulnerable children in north Wales.

“Once completed, the report will be presented to the Regional Safeguarding Board for scrutiny and approval, before being submitted to Welsh Government for final endorsement.

“It is vitally important that the review is undertaken thoroughly and can typically take approximately six months to complete.”

Today (June 6), the Chronicle asked the NWSB if it could confirm when the review will start, where it will be held, if it will take place in private or public, how long it is likely to last, and what its scope will be.

The NWSB replied by saying that there is no further comment currently.