ArtsEd, the top London drama school backed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, has settled a legal dispute with a teacher who blew the whistle on a “culture of fear” chronicled in a Deadline investigation.
In a statement quietly published on its website, ArtsEd’s board said it regretted the “distress and disruption” caused to Matthew Bulmer, who was fired after raising concerns about the leadership of former principal Julie Spencer.
Bulmer was appointed as the head of ArtsEd’s Day School and Sixth Form (DSSF) in January 2022 but was let go in August last year, resulting in him taking the institution to an employment tribunal. During a hearing earlier this year, it was revealed that Bulmer warned the drama school it had a “culture of fear” and that teachers would come to him in tears or distress after encounters with Spencer.
His claims echoed the findings of a Deadline investigation in November 2023, which revealed allegations that Spencer bullied staff and students. ArtsEd initially denied the allegations and rallied to the defense of Spencer, but under pressure from parents and further revelations from Deadline (including the publication of a recording of Spencer calling students “snakes”), the drama school launched an independent investigation led by barrister Ghazaleh Rezaie.
In a report in July, Rezaie concluded that Spencer presided over an “unhealthy environment” and brought the institution into disrepute. Spencer resigned and has not commented on the matter. ArtsEd accepted that there were “important lessons to be learned” from the review.
Commenting on Bulmer, ArtsEd’s board said: “During Matthew’s time at ArtsEd, he raised concerns over the management structure and style and, subsequently, working relationships, which he considered were impacting DSSF independence, institutional welfare and quality of provision.
“The trustees took these concerns seriously, seeking solutions and subsequently arranging for an external examination of alleged behaviours. Despite these efforts, however, a satisfactory resolution could not be reached, and Matthew departed ArtsEd in August 2023.”
“ArtsEd and its trustees acknowledge that Matthew acted in good faith when raising his concerns and was seeking to uphold the values of the institution. The trustees regret the distress and disruption caused to Matthew and others by his departure. It is our hope that this statement makes clear the contribution Matthew has made to our institution and that it enables him to move on from this challenging period to achieve the leadership successes he deserves.”
Bulmer declined to comment.
ArtsEd is a storied British drama school, which counts Lloyd Webber as its president and major donor. Its notable alumni include One Day star Leo Woodall and Oscar-winner Julie Andrews. The organization is yet to officially replace Spencer and does not have a permanent chair.