Creative Environment but Challenging Workplace Culture
Pros
Talented and creative students. Some passionate and supportive staff members. Strong creative potential and opportunities within the college environment. Diversity is visibly represented within parts of the college.
Cons
Workplace culture could feel clique-based and difficult to navigate. Lack of consistent support from management and unclear avenues for genuine staff support. Experiences of feeling overlooked and unsupported in subtle but impactful ways. Concerns around the handling of staff issues, conflict resolution, and staff wellbeing. Staff voices at times appeared to carry less weight than student complaints before full context or investigation had taken place. Significant micromanagement around teaching styles, limiting autonomy and creativity within the classroom. Disconnect between the role advertised/interviewed for and the reality of the expectations within the position. Over time, the combination of pressure, unclear expectations, workplace dynamics, unconscious bias behaviour, and lack of meaningful support created an emotionally distressing environment that ultimately felt unsustainable professionally. Greater accountability, transparency, and care are needed around leadership, communication, inclusion, and workplace culture.
