Julie Spencer, the principal at Andrew Lloyd Webber-backed drama faculty ArtsEd, has resigned citing well being causes after an unbiased investigation concluded that she presided over an “unhealthy surroundings” and introduced the establishment into disrepute.
ArtsEd is a storied British drama faculty, which counts Lloyd Webber as its president and main donor. Its notable alumni embrace One Day star Leo Woodall and Oscar-winner Julie Andrews. The college commissioned a senior lawyer to analyze after a collection of Deadline tales uncovered bullying and misconduct allegations from employees and college students in opposition to Spencer.
Ghazaleh Rezaie, the barrister engaged to guide the probe, has delivered her findings to ArtsEd’s board after a delay of greater than three months. The performing arts faculty has revealed a abstract of the investigation, however won’t launch Rezaie’s full report for information privateness causes.
After interviewing 30 witnesses, Rezaie concluded that Spencer’s relationships with ArtsEd staff was “broken past restore” and that an “unhealthy surroundings” had developed below her management. Spencer joined ArtsEd in 2019 to guide its Faculty of Performing earlier than being elevated to principal in 2021.
Rezaie mentioned that not all of the allegations in opposition to Spencer have been “nicely based,” however round half have been sufficient to justify a disciplinary course of. The lawyer additionally concluded that Spencer known as college students “snakes” after Deadline revealed audio proof of the incident. Rezaie mentioned Spencer introduced ArtsEd into disrepute, “damaging belief and confidence” within the faculty by permitting it to forcefully deny that she used the time period to explain college students.
Spencer resigned earlier than ArtsEd might start disciplinary proceedings. Spencer has been on sick depart since ArtsEd commissioned the investigation final 12 months and Rezaie was unable to completely conclude her work as a result of she couldn’t “get hold of the principal’s response to all the allegations inside the time out there as a result of principal’s well being.”
Deadline has provided Spencer the chance to remark through an ArtsEd spokesperson.
Farida Mannan, ArtsEd’s appearing chair, mentioned the board will take into account Rezaie’s findings and takes the allegations in opposition to Spencer “very significantly.” She acknowleged that the method had been “difficult and at instances an emotional” for these concerned.
Mannan added: “The board is assessing the teachings which should be discovered and adjustments which should be made … We’re dedicated to a tradition of inclusivity and transparency. The board of trustees will make sure that sturdy procedures and processes that create a secure surroundings for all of ArtsEd’s college students and employees are embedded all through the entire establishment.”
The assertion marks a change of tone from ArtsEd, which emphatically denied the allegations in opposition to Spencer and defended the principal within the weeks after Deadline’s exposé. It disputed any suggestion that the varsity had a “poisonous” surroundings and mentioned the claims have been of a historic nature, arguing that they associated to issues handled in a earlier barrister-led evaluation by Rebecca Tuck KC in 2021.
Tuck’s evaluation concluded that ArtsEd had a “lack of regard” for the wellbeing of scholars, exposing them to favoritism, bullying, and different misconduct. The inquiry pressured the resignation of principal Chris Hocking, that means Spencer is the second ArtsEd chief to give up amid a misconduct controversy over the previous three years.
The fallout from Spencer’s tenure can be taking part in out in court docket. ArtsEd is dealing with a authorized battle with a former instructor, who was fired after elevating considerations a couple of “tradition of worry” on the drama faculty. Matt Bulmer was appointed head of ArtsEd’s Day Faculty and Sixth Type in February 2022 however was sacked in August final 12 months, leading to his unfair dismissal declare.
A consultant for Lloyd Webber declined to touch upon Deadline’s investigation final 12 months. There isn’t a suggestion that he was conscious of the allegations. Deadline’s reporting on ArtsEd shaped a part of a Drama Colleges Uncovered collection, which revealed that revered appearing establishments are breeding grounds for sexual misconduct, racism, and bullying.
