Former pupils of a specialist educational referral unit in Gwynedd have come forward with disturbing allegations of physical and emotional abuse, prompting renewed demands for a public inquiry into safeguarding practices within local schools. The claims surfaced after compensation settlements were agreed with former students who say they suffered mistreatment while attending Canolfan Brynffynnon in Y Felinheli, a facility that closed in 2014 following allegations of misconduct.
The allegations paint a deeply troubling picture of the environment experienced by vulnerable children who had been referred to the school for behavioural or additional support needs. Former pupils claim they were subjected to humiliating punishments, degrading treatment and physical abuse that has left many living with lasting psychological trauma well into adulthood.
Among those speaking publicly is Rhiannon Evans, who attended the referral unit at the age of 10. She recalls being forced to eat a biscuit from the floor and having a pint of blackcurrant juice poured over her head, describing the incidents as acts carried out for the amusement of staff rather than as disciplinary measures.
According to Evans, degrading treatment was commonplace, with pupils allegedly being locked inside dark bathrooms, restrained beneath stacked tyres and struck with footballs during punishment sessions. She described the experience as feeling like “an innocent child serving a prison sentence,” explaining that everyday sights and smells continue to trigger painful memories years later.
She said the emotional consequences remain with her, affecting her confidence, wellbeing and daily life, adding that she does not believe the psychological damage can ever be completely undone.
Former pupil Levi Lewis has also shared his experiences, alleging that children at the referral unit were made to eat dog biscuits from the floor and subjected to repeated physical punishments. Lewis, who attended the school from the age of four until its closure in 2014, said he was regularly dragged by the hair, locked inside a dark toilet for extended periods and struck so forcefully on the nose that it bled.
He further alleged that footballs were deliberately kicked at children’s heads and that staff inflicted pain by pressing their knuckles into pupils’ heads. Now an adult, Lewis says he continues to experience nightmares and anxiety linked to his time at the school, while even seeing dog biscuits or footballs can trigger distressing memories.
Lewis believes the alleged abuse has had a profound and lasting impact on his mental health, stating that the trauma has never fully disappeared despite developing coping mechanisms over the years.
The allegations have emerged as solicitor Katherine Yates pursues civil claims on behalf of 21 former pupils. Two individuals have already accepted compensation settlements of £10,000 from Cyngor Gwynedd, while additional claims continue to progress.
Yates argues that the growing number of cases demonstrates the need for an independent public inquiry into the council’s management of educational settings and safeguarding procedures. She has linked the concerns to broader issues within the local education system, noting that the allegations follow closely behind the high-profile conviction of former headteacher Neil Foden, who received a 17-year prison sentence in 2024 after being found guilty of multiple sexual offences involving schoolchildren.
According to Yates, the Brynffynnon allegations cannot be viewed as isolated incidents and instead raise wider questions about accountability, oversight and the protection of vulnerable pupils within educational institutions.
Canolfan Brynffynnon was permanently closed in 2014 after concerns regarding the treatment of children emerged. Two former staff members faced child cruelty charges in 2016; however, prosecutors later discontinued the case after determining that the available evidence no longer met the threshold required for a criminal trial. Both individuals have consistently denied all allegations.
Although no criminal convictions resulted from those proceedings, civil compensation claims operate under a lower legal standard, requiring proof on the balance of probabilities rather than beyond reasonable doubt.
Cyngor Gwynedd has acknowledged that abuse occurred within the referral unit and issued an apology to those affected. The local authority stated that no child should ever experience abuse of any kind and expressed sympathy for former pupils who suffered harm.
The council confirmed that it has received 10 formal compensation claims, nine of which have already been settled. It also announced that a fresh review examining the actions taken at the time has been commissioned to ensure lessons continue to inform current safeguarding practices.
Officials further stated that child protection procedures across Gwynedd have since undergone comprehensive reforms and have been strengthened in line with recommendations contained in the 2025 “Our Bravery Brought Justice” report.
The latest testimonies have reignited debate over safeguarding standards in educational settings across Wales, with campaigners arguing that compensation alone cannot address decades of alleged institutional failures. Former pupils and their legal representatives continue to call for a full public inquiry, insisting that only an independent investigation can establish accountability, restore public confidence and ensure that vulnerable children receive the protection and care they deserve.