S4C has cancelled a planned three-part drama about the missed opportunities to stop Neil Foden, the former headteacher of Ysgol Friars in Bangor. The broadcaster apologised for the distress caused and said the wellbeing of those affected comes first.
The series, provisionally titled Y Pennaeth (The Head Teacher), was announced in August and had been due to air in 2027. It was to examine safeguarding failures and tell the story from the perspective of two girls who survived the abuse, with characters and scenes fictionalised to protect their identities.
An S4C spokesperson said: “S4C has an important role in telling stories that shine a light on matters of public interest. However, following careful consideration, we have concluded that it would not be appropriate to proceed with the drama series provisionally titled Y Pennaeth. The wellbeing of those affected by these events comes first. This is S4C’s decision, and we apologise for the distress this has caused. Out of respect for the privacy of those affected, we will not be commenting further.”
Foden was jailed for 17 years in 2024 after being convicted of sexually abusing four girls. An independent review published in 2025 found that more than 50 opportunities to stop him had been missed.
Read The Bangor Aye’s original report on the planned drama
Photo: S4C
