EXCLUSIVE: More than 100 parents have written to Andrew Lloyd Webber-backed drama school ArtsEd to express their horror at bullying and misconduct allegations uncovered in a Deadline investigation.
In a letter sent to every member of ArtsEd’s board of trustees, parents said the institution’s response to the accusations against principal Julie Spencer had been “inadequate and unsatisfactory.”
ArtsEd, a training ground for stars including Julie Andrews and Catherine Zeta-Jones, has strongly refuted the claims against Spencer and denied it has a “toxic” culture that has put students at risk.
Seen by Deadline, the letter states that there has been “great shock and distress” among parents. “We are horrified by the allegations and that the principal has been left in place at the charity without investigation into both the recent and historic accusations about her behaviour,” they said.
The parents criticized the board for failing to communicate about the issues raised in Deadline’s reporting, claiming it was “disrespectful” to those who “deserve much better” from the school.
The 109 signatories represent students who attend ArtsEd’s Day School & Sixth Form (DSSF), which provides performing arts education for 11-18-year-olds. ArtsEd also has higher education drama and musical theatre faculties.
“The atmosphere that we have all detected at the school, is rapidly putting the DSSF in jeopardy,” the letter added. “We have direct knowledge of staff looking to leave, parents who have removed their children, others looking to remove their children and some no longer considering the school for their siblings. Indeed, the reputation of the entire ArtsEd charity is at risk.”
Parents are expected to meet with ArtsEd chair Brian Brodie next week to discuss their concerns. They posed trustees a series of questions, including whether the board should suspend Spencer and launch an external investigation into the bullying and misconduct allegations.
They also asked about the “financial allocation of resources” at the school amid concerns that ArtsEd’s revenue “disproportionately” benefits degree courses.
They added that there was a “growing lack of trust” in the board. Deadline previously reported that trustees received student complaints about Spencer before appointing her as principal in 2021, but did not uphold any of the concerns.
Andrew Lloyd Webber serves as ArtsEd’s president. There is no suggestion that he was aware of the allegations.
Brodie responded to the letter within hours. He apologized for the lack of communication and said the board was treating the concerns over student safety with the “utmost seriousness.”
Brodie said: “We have taken reasonable steps in the last number of weeks to address the concerns raised in the media coverage, including engaging external legal and communications advisers.”
ArtsEd has repeatedly denied that there are issues at school and, through an external law firm, questioned if the allegations were in the public interest. In a staff email earlier this month, school leaders said the story was not justified and was “in no way reflective of the facts.”
Deadline’s investigation revealed considerable anxiety about the leadership style of principal Spencer. Twenty people who have had personal interactions with Spencer accused her of being an erratic and occasionally intimidating individual. The majority of those who spoke to Deadline said they considered her behavior to be bullying.
Students told Deadline that she created a “culture of fear” and was capable of bizarre outbursts, including one in which she accused a year group of being “snakes.” At least two ex-staffers accused Spencer of intimidating behavior, while others blamed ArtsEd for a deterioration in their mental health.
Around 20 senior leaders, heads of department, and course leaders have left ArtsEd over the past two years, with a number citing the culture at the school. ArtsEd has argued that staff churn was a result of changes in processes following a lawyer-led inquiry into the school’s culture in 2021.
Since publication, Deadline has been contacted by more than 50 people who have described their own experience at the school, as well as at Spencer’s previous employer, St Mary’s University.
ArtsEd declined to comment on the parents’ letter. Last week, the school encouraged students, alumni and staff to report misconduct, saying complaints would be thoroughly investigated. Some staff members communicated concerns about ArtsEd’s leadership to regulator Ofsted during a routine inspection last week.
In a previous statement, ArtsEd said: “The school’s leadership has been working to proactively improve our culture and processes. We have made many robust changes that were needed in light of those findings [in the 2021 legal review], including staff departures and instilling a new and more student-focused culture.
“Although this work is ongoing and we recognise that there is always room for evolving and building on the improvements that have been made, we are confident that the school today is a much more accountable and supportive environment than two years ago.”
Lloyd Webber’s foundation has donated millions to ArtsEd and he serves as the school’s president, a largely ceremonial role. He has not responded to a request for comment about the parents’ letter. There is no suggestion that he was aware of the allegations before Deadline’s investigation.
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