ArtsEd Principal Julie Spencer resigns following investigation

Image: Julie Spencer

Independent report recommended disciplinary proceedings

The Principal of ArtsEd, Julie Spencer, has resigned following an investigation into her conduct which resulted in barrister Ghazaleh Rezaie recommending she face disciplinary proceedings.

The independent investigation found her relationship with current employees at ArtsEd had been damaged ‘beyond repair’.

Julie Spencer  was accused of bullying and favouritism. While Ghazaleh Rezaie did not find any evidence of favouritism, she found there was evidence the Principal had called students “snakes”, as later revealed in an audio recording which had been made public.

‘By denying this the Principal allowed ArtsEd, in turn, to make a public statement forcefully denying the allegation, bringing ArtsEd into disrepute and damaging trust and confidence’.

READ ALSO: Arts Ed parents demand answers as principal faces allegations of bullying

Ghazaleh Rezaie

Ms Rezaie, of 12 King’s Bench Walk Chambers, interviewed 30 people before interviewing the Principal herself and found that ‘while around half the allegations were “not well-founded”,  I did, however, find the other half gave rise to the need to further exploration through a disciplinary process.’

She said: ‘the cumulative effect’ of the allegations against her ‘created an unhealthy environment.’

Despite all that has been going on, ArtsEd staff still managed to receive an excellent report from the Independent Schools Inspectorate in May. Head teacher of the day school Peter Middleton wrote this guest blog about the report:

READ ALSO: ArtsEd receives highest accolade from Independent Schools Inspectorate

Ms Spencer is the second Principal to resign from the school within three years. She replaced previous Principal Chris Hocking when he also stepped down after an external investigation into misconduct at the school found the school under his tenure was an ‘sexualised environment’ which was unacceptable.

READ ALSO: ArtsEd principal resigns after report reveals school’s ‘sexualised environment’

Julie Spencer has been off sick for some months and Ms Rezaie said there were times during their interview sessions when she clearly was not well enough to answer:

“She appeared visibly unwell and unable even to speak without causing concern.”

In future, Ms Rezaie suggested there may be ways ArtsEd’s internal processes could be strengthened to prevent any similar problems from arising. From speaking to staff she found the fact that the Principal was also was also on the Board of Trustees meant they felt they had no recourse to the Board of Trustees when a complaint was about the Principal who was also a Trustee.

Julie Spencer was Director for their School of Acting before she took over from Chris Hocking as Principal.

She worked as an actor and director before taking up teaching in Higher Education, As a practitioner she worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, Glasgow Citizens, the Bush Theatre and the Tricycle Theatre, with Directors such as Sam Mendes, Danny Boyle, Michael Attenborough and Nick Hynter.

As an educator, Julie taught students at the Central School of Speech and Drama, the Malta Drama Centre, the Kingston Little Theatre in Jamaica, in Bulgaria and at the University of Milan – and has also delivered Masterclasses at RADA. She was Head of Drama at St Mary’s University before taking the job at ArtsEd.

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