Here are answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Child Practice Review outcome:
Cyngor Gwynedd wants to make sure that all children feel safe at school. Here are some of the things we do:
- Each school has a member of staff (Designated Safeguarding Person) and a member of a governing body (Designated Safeguarding Governor) who is responsible for keeping children safe.
- A poster is displayed in each school with the contact details of the Designated Safeguarding Person.
- The Council offers training to school staff so that they know what to do if there is concern about a child.
- The Council makes annual visits to the schools to ensure that everyone keeps to the safeguarding rules.
- A special team called the Schools Safeguarding and Wellbeing Team supports schools when safeguarding issues arise, to help them tackle them properly.
The Council takes the safety of children seriously and does everything in its power to ensure that schools are safe and happy places.
Cyngor Gwynedd has now taken a number of positive steps to make schools safer and improve the way they protect children:
- In March 2024, a new corporate safeguarding policy was adopted which strengthens the current arrangements to keep children safe. You can read a copy of the Policy here: Corporate Safeguarding Policy (opens in new tab)
- In 2025, a Gwynedd Schools Safeguarding and Wellbeing Team was established which provides training to teachers and staff, makes annual visits to schools, and helps to respond quickly and effectively to any concerns or allegations. More information about the team's work can be found here: Keeping pupils safe (opens in new tab)
- The training package for teachers has been updated to include a new section on "grooming," to improve staff knowledge and vigilance.
- A group of Designated Safeguarding Persons across North Wales has been established to ensure that there is standard training, which complies with national requirements.
- The Council's Scrutiny Committee is investigating the safeguarding arrangements for Gwynedd's schools, with the aim of completing the work by the end of 2025 and making recommendations for further improvement.
Gwynedd schools work hard to ensure that parents and carers know how to keep children safe. Here are some things parents can do to get information:
- Each school has a Safeguarding policy, a copy can be obtained through the school's website or by contacting the school directly.
- If you have urgent concerns or if you are not sure how to discuss a topic, you can contact Cyngor Gwynedd's Children's Services for help.
- Phone: 01766 772577
- Email: cyfeiriadauplant@gwynedd.llyw.cymru
- You can speak to a Designated Safeguarding Person or the Headteacher at the school to discuss any concerns or to get more information about how they safeguard children. Posters around each school show contact details of the Designated Safeguarding Person.
A Child Practice Review is a statutory process that is carried out when serious concerns arise about the safeguarding or welfare of a child. A Review looks at what has happened and what should have happened to learn lessons to make things safer for the future.
This case involved the former principal of Ysgol Friars. After the criminal case ended, it was decided to hold an Extended Child Practice Review in July 2024. The report is expected to finish in September 2025, and Cyngor Gwynedd will act on all its recommendations.
The Child Practice Review was commissioned by the North Wales Regional Safeguarding Board and was carried out by an independent team - that is, people who have no connection with the Council or the schools in question.
The work was led by Jan Pickles OBE, who is an experienced and independent chair, supported by two other reviewers who have extensive knowledge and experience in the field of education and child protection.
This is a fair and important question. That is why the Child Practice Review was commissioned - to look in detail at what happened, why it happened, and what could have been done differently.
The review has looked at all the evidence, correspondence, records and relevant information, and has interviewed key individuals. The aim of all this was to understand what went wrong, learn lessons, and ensure that a similar situation does not happen again.
Yes. Cyngor Gwynedd will welcome the recommendations from the Child Practice Review as an opportunity to improve safeguarding work, to learn from mistakes and ensure that such crimes do not happen again.
After the report has been published, the Council will work closely with the Response Plan Board to review and improve its work streams to ensure that the right steps are taken.
Cyngor Gwynedd works closely with the police, social services, health, and other agencies when there are serious concerns about a child's safety.
When necessary, these organisations meet in special meetings to share information and make a clear plan to keep the child safe. These meetings help everyone to work together, to make appropriate decisions, and to ensure that correct actions are taken. This collaboration is an important part of the safeguarding system, ensuring that everyone who can help a child knows what is happening and what needs to be done.
The Council is also a member of the North Wales Regional Safeguarding Board. The Board brings together the main organisations to ensure that policies, training and safeguarding arrangements work effectively across the whole region.
If you have any concerns about a child, it is better to say something than not. One comment or call can make a big difference. You don't have to be sure - if you're worried, that's enough.
Contact Cyngor Gwynedd's Children's Services
- Phone: 01766 772577
- Email: cyfeiriadauplant@gwynedd.llyw.cymru
If it is an emergency and a child is in serious danger – **call the police on 999.**
Try to share as much information as possible: Safeguarding children is everyone's responsibility. It doesn't matter who you are - parent, teacher, neighbour or pupil.
Don't think "what if I'm wrong?" – think "what if I'm right?"
Cyngor Gwynedd provides training to all members of staff to raise awareness about how to report any safeguarding concerns. This ensures that everyone knows what to do if someone is worried about a child or adult.
Cyngor Gwynedd’s Safeguarding Strategic Panel monitors this work by reviewing the Council's policies and procedures and ensures that the systems work effectively. In addition, the panel carries out ongoing work to raise awareness and improve the corporate arrangements so that the staff have the latest information and support to act correctly.
Through this ongoing work, the aim is to ensure that protecting children and adults is a priority for everyone who works in the Council.
- Provide all information, evidence, correspondence and records for the period in question to the Child Practice Review.
- An independent barrister was commissioned to investigate the specific events in 2019 with the aim of gathering all facts and recommendations.
- An investigation was commissioned into the response to the Complaints Panel, assessing whether the response of the school, Governors and council authority was sufficient.
- The Information Commissioner's Office was asked to investigate Gwynedd's Freedom of Information procedures.
- The Council's Scrutiny Committee is conducting an investigation into safeguarding arrangements in Gwynedd schools, with the aim of completing it by the end of 2025.
To harmonise and coordinate the learning from all the investigations, a Response Plan was adopted, and an independent Program Board was established to steer the work plan, advise, scrutinise and challenge the authority's officers every step of the way.
Sometimes, important investigations must be carried out in private because they contain sensitive information - such as the names of children, staff, or personal details.
Cyngor Gwynedd wants to ensure that the process is thorough, fair and legally correct. The Council is not able to share everything at once as people's privacy must be protected and ensure that any information does not harm the victims or break the law. When it is safe to do so, more information will be shared.
Yes. The school has changed a lot over the last period and is on a positive journey of improvement. It now has:
- A new Head, Margaret Davies (since Easter 2025)
- New Chair of Governors, Councillor Elin Walker Jones
- A new management team and governors, with support from the Education Department
Everyone works together to keep the school stable and supportive of the pupils. Emotional and pastoral support continues to be available to the children and staff.
If a child or family has had a bad experience or been affected by abuse, help is available. Here are some places that can help:
- At school: You can talk to a teacher you trust, or the school nurse. They will listen and do their best to help you.
- Cyngor Gwynedd Social Services: There are special people who work for the council who help children and families:
Phone: 01766 772577
E-mail: cyfeiriadauplant@gwynedd.llyw.cymru (opens in new tab) - The Police: t is important that anyone who is aware of any crimes contact the Police. There is no time limit and it doesn't matter if you can't remember all the details. You can contact North Wales Police (opens in new tab).
Support is also available from external agencies: