A former pupil of Ysgol Friars in Bangor, Gwynedd, has come forward alleging that she was groomed by the school's former headteacher, Neil Foden. Foden was jailed for 17 years in 2024 for a series of sexual offences against young girls. The pupil, who wishes to remain anonymous, claims that Foden groomed her in 2023 when she was 14 years old.
According to the pupil, Foden offered one-to-one support sessions, which she initially welcomed, but soon felt uneasy about. She claims that Foden told her not to tell her parents about the meetings and asked her parents not to discuss the arrangement with her. The pupil attended 17 such sessions, during which she opened up to Foden, who she claims used his position of authority to control her mind.
The pupil believes that Foden's behaviour was not isolated, citing concerns raised by senior school staff at the time, which were not reported to the relevant authorities. An independent Child Practice Review, published in November 2025, identified over 50 missed opportunities to stop Foden, including concerns about his behaviour being discussed by senior school staff.
The pupil, now 17, is seeking compensation for the alleged grooming and its ongoing impact, which includes nightmares and flashbacks. Insurers acting on behalf of Cyngor Gwynedd have invited her to withdraw her claim, citing 'no legal liability' in relation to her proposed claim.