S4C in Wales has commissioned a three-part drama examining the failures and missed opportunities to stop paedophile former head teacher Neil Foden.

Y Pennaeth (The Head Teacher – working title) is based on evidence and notes from the trial that took place at Mold Crown Court, and an independent report on the case, written by expert Jan Pickles.

A former head teacher at Friars School in Bangor, Foden was arrested in 2023. He was sentenced to 17 years in jail after being convicted of sexually abusing four girls between 2019 and 2023. In 2025 an independent review concluded that more than 50 opportunities were missed to stop Foden from sexually abusing girls.

Y Pennaeth will recount the events from the point of view of two young girls who are survivors of the abuse. These characters, and many of the scenes, will be fictionalised to protect the identity of the survivors.

Mark Lewis Jones (Y Golau: Dŵr) will portray Foden in the drama, which will examine how Foden took advantage of the girls’ personal situations, the failures of safeguarding procedures and the opportunities missed to prevent further crimes taking place.

During the research and writing phase, the author and production company worked with a journalist who is a contact point between them and those involved in and affected by the events.

North Wales Police have ensured that all survivors involved in the court case are aware of the project, and the production company has offered them access to professional support.

Y Pennaeth is produced by MOJO Productions, which has been developing the series with S4C for the last 18 months. It is written by Llinos Gerallt (Yr Amgueddfa), produced by Llyr Morus and directed by Huw Chiswell. It will air on S4C next year.

S4C’s outgoing drama and film commissioner Gwenllian Gravelle said: “This is an important and shocking story about how one man in a position of trust and power betrayed his status over a period of many years, and asks difficult questions about cultures where one individual is seen as someone who cannot be challenged.

“Developed with great care and sensitivity, the production deals with the subject in a responsible way, focusing on the wider results of the betrayal by a public figure who was entrusted with responsibility and care.”