Lack of national oversight in child safeguarding reviews in Welsh schools since 2018 criticized

The Welsh government has confirmed there has been no national oversight of child safeguarding reviews in schools since 2018. This revelation has drawn criticism from prominent child safeguarding experts and the children’s commissioner, Rocio Cifuentes, who highlighted the lack of accountability in handling allegations of harm to pupils.

School governing bodies in Wales are required to appoint an independent investigator when allegations of harm to a pupil are made. However, the Welsh government has stated it is reviewing the requirements around independent investigations. This comes amid growing concerns over the effectiveness of current safeguarding measures.

The issue arises just days before the expected publication of a child practice review into Neil Foden, a former headteacher who was jailed in 2024 after being found guilty of sexual abuse involving four girls over a four-year period. The review is expected to shed further light on the systemic failures in safeguarding within educational institutions.

The Independent Investigation Service (IIS), established in 2006 following the Clywch report, was a key mechanism for funding independent investigations into safeguarding allegations against school staff. However, the scheme was scrapped in 2018, with government funding withdrawn and responsibility for funding such investigations transferred to school governors and local authorities.

Rocio Cifuentes, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, has expressed concerns over the lack of transparency and accountability in the process. She noted that while some local authorities have commissioned independent reviews, the full reports are not shared with her office. This absence of a robust mechanism for implementing and monitoring recommendations has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of current practices.

Helen Mary Jones, an expert on child safeguarding in Wales, emphasized the need for clear responsibility and accountability. She questioned who is responsible for implementing recommendations from these reviews and who is answerable if they are not followed. She called for Welsh government ministers to take responsibility for ensuring actions are taken when things go wrong.

Prof Sir Malcolm Evans, a former member of the Statutory Panel of Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in England, has also raised concerns about the lack of national oversight. His involvement in past inquiries highlights the importance of having a structured and accountable system for addressing safeguarding issues in educational settings.

The ongoing debate underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to child safeguarding, ensuring that investigations are not only conducted but also that their findings are implemented and monitored effectively. This is essential for protecting vulnerable children and maintaining public trust in educational institutions.

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