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Response Plan Programme Board

The purpose of the Response Plan Programme Board is to look at, challenge and drive all the work streams deriving from the reviews and investigations following the offences of the former Ysgol Friars Headteacher.

This is important to give confidence to children, young people and their families that steps are being taken to learn lessons from this case.

The Work Programme (by theme)

Theme 1: Voice of the Child and Supporting Victims

Drawing of an ear

Theme 2: Managing Allegations and Concerns about Adults Working with Children

Animation of two hands

Theme 3: Training and Policies

An animation of a classroom

Theme 4: Governance in Schools

Animation

Theme 5: Restrictive Practices

Animation of a hand signalling to stop

Theme 6: Crisis Planning

An animation of a checklist

Theme 7: Supporting and stabilising Ysgol Friars

Drawing of a school

The Board

The Board is independent, consisting of professionals from other organisations such as Estyn, the Welsh Government, the Children's Commissioner and Care Inspectorate Wales, therefore can look at the work objectively and offer a challenge from the outside. The Board looks at the impact of the changes that Cyngor Gwynedd has introduced, and reports on what is working and what has changed.

Who sits on the Response Plan Programme Board?

The Chair of the Board is Professor Sally Holland, former Children's Commissioner for Wales and a prominent expert in the field of child protection. Members of the Response Plan Programme Board include:

- Cyngor Gwynedd senior officers and Cabinet members
- Ysgol Friars Headteacher
- Ysgol Friars Governing Body Chair
-  Current Children's Commissioner for Wales
- Welsh Government representatives
- North Wales Safeguarding Board
- Estyn and Care Inspectorate Wales

How does the Response Plan Programme Board work?

Over the last year, many reviews have been conducted on different aspects of the case, forming many recommendations. ⁠The recommendations and what needs to be done to improve things apply to these services: Children, Education and Schools Governance, Crisis Planning and Emergency Response, Human Resources and wider corporate functions.

The Board has 7 work streams, with each one being led by a specific leader.

Meetings are held every two months, giving an opportunity to scrutinise the work, challenge timetables and give an opinion on the way forward. An update Report is also presented by the Chair to the Cabinet every quarter.

Agenda and Papers for the Response Plan Programme Board

27 April 2026 Meeting
2 March 2026 Meeting

Further information

Simple version - What has changed so far? (April
2026)Simple version - What still needs to change? (April 2026)
Response Plan Programme Board Work Programme