A CHILD Practice Review has started following the conviction of former Bangor headteacher Neil Foden for 19 sexual offences.

Foden, 66, of Gwynant, Old Colwyn, was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment on July 1, after he was convicted in May following a three-week trial.

Now that criminal proceedings have concluded, the North Wales Safeguarding Board has started a review.

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Jan Pickles OBE has been appointed as the independent chair for the Child Practice Review.

She is a registered social worker who has worked with the probation service, police and the NSPCC, and has been a National Independent Safeguarding Board Wales member.

Alongside her, the board has also commissioned two independent reviewers from outside the North Wales region who have experience of safeguarding in schools.

On May 15, the day Foden was convicted, the board said: “This is not part of the criminal or investigatory process.

“Rather, it aims to examine agencies’ involvement and identify lessons to be learnt.

“Agencies sitting on the panel will gather information on their involvement to develop a timeline of significant events that took place.

“This information will be presented to a multi-agency learning event, attended by practitioners who were involved to share their understanding of what has happened and identify key learning points.

“The panel is also required to seek opportunities to engage with the children and young people impacted, where appropriate, to support with this learning, so that the child or young people are central to the whole process.”

Foden’s offending took place between 2019 and 2023, and involved four child victims.

Following his sentencing, there were calls for investigations to go further than a Child Practice Review, such as through as a statutory public inquiry,

The board will aim to complete the review “at the earliest opportunity” and will provide regular updates to the Safeguarding and Advocacy Unit in Welsh Government.

Jenny Williams, chair of the board, added: “The learning event is an important opportunity for independent reviewers to collate and analyse all the information gathered to complete a report.

“This report will highlight learning from the case, areas of good practice and recommendations in order to improve future safeguarding practice.

“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 Child Practice Review is undertaken thoroughly, and can typically take approximately six months to complete.

“However, timescales will depend on many factors, including the complexity of this case, the extent of the investigations and engagement with partners that are required, and the necessity of the panel to fully consider in detail all of the evidence.”