Two recent cases in the UK have thrust the issue of safeguarding in schools into the national spotlight, raising difficult questions about institutional accountability, the protection of children, and the culture within educational environments. The first involves Neil Foden, a former head teacher from Bangor, North Wales, whose decades-long pattern of abuse and intimidation was only halted after years of missed warnings. The second is the ongoing case of Leila Jackson, a school administrative worker from Cheltenham, who denies charges of sexual activity with a pupil and is set to stand trial in 2027. Both cases, alongside the damning conviction of teacher Rebecca Joynes last year, have cast a harsh light on the systems meant to protect the most vulnerable in schools.
According to BBC News, concerns about Neil Foden’s conduct at Ysgol Friars in Bangor were raised as far back as 2009. Linda, not her real name, was a parent who approached Cyngor Gwynedd council after her son was excluded from school. She was told by a council officer that she wasn’t the first to complain about Foden’s draconian behavior. “They said they had files and files of complaints regarding the draconian behaviour of Foden,” Linda recalled. The officer also confided that there were many concerns about child safety at the school, but that navigating the bureaucracy to address them was difficult. Her complaint was logged among the “huge files of complaints [they] already had about Neil Foden, Friars, and staff at the school.”
Foden’s reign at Ysgol Friars was characterized by a pervasive culture of fear. Parents, pupils, and staff described an environment where bullying and intimidation were commonplace. The recently published Child Practice Review (CPR) found that there were 50 "missed opportunities" to stop Foden, who was ultimately jailed for 17 years after being convicted of 19 charges involving four girls. The review, which considered evidence from eight girls who said they were abused by him, described Foden as a "prolific sex offender who harmed many children."
Another parent, Rhiannon (also not her real name), recounted a particularly harrowing incident in 2014. Her 16-year-old daughter, grieving the loss of a friend to suicide, posted critical comments on social media about the school’s pastoral care. Foden, described as "livid" upon reading the post, had the girl isolated and then berated by himself and senior staff for hours, warning her that her comments could "ruin her future." Rhiannon recalled, “She was terrified.” During a subsequent meeting, Foden told the girl, “Well, you have a filthy little mouth, don’t you?” The incident left Rhiannon enraged and sickened. She believed Foden was protected by a "circle of people," saying, "In my opinion, it was only a matter of time before his behaviour escalated, and the people who enabled that to happen should all be held accountable."
Cyngor Gwynedd council, when asked for comment, said it had "no information" about the specific cases but emphasized that it had been investigating such allegations for more than a year and was committed to acting on all conclusions and recommendations from the review, fully and without delay.
Internally, Foden’s name was notorious. Mari, a former council staff member who handled cases linked to him, said his name came up "repeatedly" in the office. She described a culture where Foden, seen as a ruthless boss, seemed to operate unchecked. "Some officers questioned the pattern but this was not addressed by managers," Mari said. She went further, calling the culture "immoral," and claimed that "some individuals were protected and promoted" while key appointments lacked transparency and often favored personal contacts or political allies.
The CPR found that Foden controlled the school’s governing body both leading up to and during his offending, which allowed him to operate with impunity. Mair Edwards, the former chair of the governing body, resigned partly because of Foden’s controlling behavior. She said she was "shocked" by his arrest in September 2023, adding, "Although there had been tribunals about his bullying behaviour, his attitude towards staff members which was very concerning, it never occurred to me that he had an unhealthy, perverted interest in children."
In response to the scandal, the Welsh government announced a review of school governing bodies, acknowledging that while the school system had undergone reforms in the past decade, the role of governing bodies had not fundamentally changed. Local authorities, they said, are now responsible for ensuring governors receive the training and information necessary to carry out their roles effectively.
While the Foden case exposes the consequences of institutional failure to act on warnings, the upcoming trial of Leila Jackson raises fresh concerns about the boundaries and responsibilities of adults in positions of trust within schools. According to Daily Mail, Jackson, 43, from Gretton, Cheltenham, pleaded not guilty on November 7, 2025, to five charges of sexual activity with a boy aged 16 to 17 while in a position of trust. The alleged offenses are said to have taken place over a six-month period. Jackson, who appeared at Gloucester Crown Court, spoke only to confirm her name and enter her pleas. She was released on conditional bail and ordered not to contact any prosecution witnesses, including the complainant. A six-day trial is scheduled for July 2027.
This case follows the high-profile conviction of Rebecca Joynes in May 2024. Joynes, a teacher in Greater Manchester, was found guilty after having sexual relationships with pupils and becoming pregnant by one. She was suspended in October 2021 after a report to Childline alleged she had sex with a 15-year-old pupil, bought him a £345 Gucci belt, and drove him to her home. While on bail, Joynes then became pregnant by one of the boy’s classmates, with whom she had sex around 30 times. She also allowed a third boy to visit her home twice, although no sexual activity took place.
The aftermath of the Joynes scandal was toxic for the school community. As reported by The Times, a former colleague described how trust between pupils and staff was shattered, leading to an exodus of "distraught" staff. Rumors swirled that Joynes had bought alcohol for teenagers and hosted parties at her flat. The culture around her was one of inappropriate familiarity; she was seen as a "cool girl" by students, chatting with them about fashion and strutting down corridors to their cheers. In contrast, Joynes kept her distance from staff, never joining in social events even with colleagues nearing retirement.
These cases, from North Wales to Greater Manchester to Cheltenham, reveal a pattern of institutional blind spots and, at times, outright failures to protect children from those in positions of authority. They also highlight the devastating impact such scandals can have on school communities—destroying trust, sowing fear, and leaving lasting scars on both victims and those around them.
As reviews and trials proceed, the challenge for schools, local authorities, and governments is clear: to create a culture where safeguarding is paramount, complaints are taken seriously, and no individual is above scrutiny. Only then can families and children truly trust the institutions meant to protect and nurture them.
