Julie Spencer, the principal at Andrew Lloyd Webber-backed drama faculty ArtsEd, has resigned citing well being causes after an impartial investigation concluded that she presided over an “unhealthy atmosphere” 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 varsity commissioned a senior lawyer to research after a sequence of Deadline tales uncovered bullying and misconduct allegations from employees and college students towards 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 knowledge privateness causes.
After interviewing 30 witnesses, Rezaie concluded that Spencer’s relationships with ArtsEd workers was “broken past restore” and that an “unhealthy atmosphere” had developed underneath her management. Spencer joined ArtsEd in 2019 to guide its College of Performing earlier than being elevated to principal in 2021.
Rezaie mentioned that not all of the allegations towards 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 begin disciplinary proceedings. Spencer has been on sick depart since ArtsEd commissioned the investigation final yr and Rezaie was unable to totally conclude her work as a result of she couldn’t “receive the principal’s response to all the allegations inside the time accessible as a result of principal’s well being.”
Deadline has supplied Spencer the chance to remark by way of an ArtsEd spokesperson.
Farida Mannan, ArtsEd’s performing chair, mentioned the board will contemplate Rezaie’s findings and takes the allegations towards 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 have to be realized and modifications which have to be made … We’re dedicated to a tradition of inclusivity and transparency. The board of trustees will make sure that strong procedures and processes that create a protected atmosphere 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 towards Spencer and defended the principal within the weeks after Deadline’s exposé. It disputed any suggestion that the varsity had a “poisonous” atmosphere and mentioned the claims have been of a historic nature, arguing that they associated to issues handled in a earlier barrister-led evaluate by Rebecca Tuck KC in 2021.
Tuck’s evaluate concluded that ArtsEd had a “lack of regard” for the wellbeing of scholars, exposing them to favoritism, bullying, and different misconduct. The inquiry compelled the resignation of principal Chris Hocking, that means Spencer is the second ArtsEd chief to stop 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 issues a few “tradition of concern” on the drama faculty. Matt Bulmer was appointed head of ArtsEd’s Day College and Sixth Kind in February 2022 however was sacked in August final yr, leading to his unfair dismissal declare.
A consultant for Lloyd Webber declined to touch upon Deadline’s investigation final yr. There isn’t a suggestion that he was conscious of the allegations. Deadline’s reporting on ArtsEd fashioned a part of a Drama Faculties Uncovered sequence, which revealed that revered performing establishments are breeding grounds for sexual misconduct, racism, and bullying.
