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Experts and child safeguarding advocates have raised concerns about the lack of national oversight for child safeguarding reviews in schools since 2018. The Welsh government has confirmed this gap in oversight, prompting criticism from prominent figures like the children’s commissioner, Rocio Cifuentes. According to the government, school governing bodies are responsible for appointing an independent investigator when allegations of harm to a pupil are made, but they are now considering reviewing the requirements surrounding these investigations.
The revelations about the lack of national oversight come at a sensitive time, as a child practice review into former headteacher Neil Foden is expected to be published soon. Foden was convicted in 2024 for sexual abuse involving four girls over a four-year period. The Independent Investigation Service (IIS), established by the Welsh government in 2006 following the Clywch report, used to fund independent investigations into safeguarding allegations against school staff. However, this funding was withdrawn in 2018, transferring the responsibility for investigations to school governors and local authorities.
Children’s Commissioner for Wales Rocio Cifuentes highlighted concerns about the quality and transparency of independent reviews commissioned by local authorities. She emphasized the need for a robust mechanism to implement and monitor recommendations from these investigations. Experts like Helen Mary Jones, who was an assembly member during the Clywch report’s publication and is now a child safeguarding expert in Wales, have also questioned accountability in implementing recommendations. Prof Sir Malcolm Evans warned that removing national oversight could lead to an increase in safeguarding issues, as mechanisms for scrutiny and oversight are essential to prevent problems from recurring. The Welsh government has acknowledged the need to address the current shortcomings in independent investigations and has committed to reviewing the requirements in the near future
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