lecturer

shift leader

support associate

technician

administrator

Access-Creative-College

When I was offered a job at Access, they promised me that they would fund my teaching qualification and provide all the training and guidance that I needed. The salary on the job advert was also a lot higher than what was offered to me, but I thought I would give the job a chance as I really needed it and the training was what I also needed.

Very quickly I was thrown in the deep end with no formal training at all, and expected to know exactly what I was doing. They gave me no training on important aspects of the role such as how to take the register correctly on their systems, meaning I was making fatal errors because they wouldn't help me! The curriculum and class structures were fatally incorrect and I physically couldn’t make them work, which meant myself and my poor students were all miserable and stressed out! I began hearing rumours that they always promise new starters a teaching qualification but never actually put in the funding for it to happen, meaning I had been lied to.

The only good thing about working here was how amazing my co workers were, and how much they tried to help me because everyone was in the same boat. Most of the students were lovely, hardworking and an absolute pleasure to teach. The shifts were relatively flexible but they do not leave enough time for administrative tasks. I had to do lesson plans at home because I did not have enough time at work. Even worse, when I was on sick leave, they expected me to keep working on detailed lesson plans and carry out administrative tasks…

The problem with this college really lies within upper management. They are absolutely useless and only seem to care about making money rather than providing high quality education to their students.



There are fundamental issues with this company. They describe themselves as one big family, it's not. It's a family in head office and a "less important" family in the centres. I worked with amazing people who I loved dearly and we all had a bond because of "going through it together" but staying at a company because the people are nice isn't healthy. 

They don't value their staff, don't listen to feedback and opinions and that is hugely reflected in the pay. 

When people take sick days they're often judged, expected to "power through" or expected to work from home. It's not something I realised was so heavily part of the culture until I've moved to a new company that let me take important health appointments with no consequences or take time off work because I'm legitimately unwell. 

There is also a huge gossip culture and a ridiculous amount of unprofessional behaviour. Staff get shouted at, bullied etc. 

The centres are underfunded and neglected too, the equipment is advertised as being "industry standard" and "top of the range" but often staff have to bring in their own equipment so that the students can still get the level of teaching they deserve.

The place is extremely disorganised which leaves staff, students and parents dissatisfied. 

It's such a shame that the company is riddled with these problems as I did actually enjoy working at the company because so many of the colleagues are such beautiful, caring souls who just want to support the students with their love for creativity. I've made forever friends who I love dearly. 







The teaching staff and students are excellent. 

Management are based outside of the local college and therefore have no idea what is going on and are not educationally trained and so they are only running the college like a business. They are for profit only which means that students are entered into the college, whether we are able to see achievement with them or not. Each student means funding and so 'Yes' is said much more than no. Meaning there is a terrible provision of under qualified teachers dealing with ALN/SEN students, lecturers that do not have PGCE or teaching qualifications and over worked and under paid qualified teachers putting up with WAY TOO MUCH. I saw 5 people leave in a month and 2 of those people were new staff.

I have never worked at such a stressful place, I am still recovering from burn out from working at the college as a Pathway Manager. Little support, huge expectations, under paid, under staffed and then to boot you are not allowed to take longer than 2 weeks off for summer and you're expected to come in during half terms for open days. 

Teaching is incredibly stressful and hard work, this college compounds the issue and makes no changes to support or look after their staff. No proper CPD training programs, no benefits, only a 'hotline' to a helpline...ALSO no union support, so good luck working here because it's awful and it won't change. Pay is massively under national averages and workload is hugely over. I wish I had never made the mistake of joining this college, as I am still dealing with the mental and physical effects of the burnout that i got from my time with them.

You will be offered a much lower salary than advertised. The facilities in Shoreditch is completely overcrowded. The main common room area is like a Zoo or out of control youth club. Constant shouting, bedlam and music. No control at all. The main staff office is hot, hotdesked and cramped. The work culture is very negative. 10 people left at least in 10 months-very high turnover.  Staff's wellbeing are not cared for. If you contact People's Services they ignore it and say they need data, they never visit. 

Gender imbalance completely male dominated no female management. Bombarded with constant deadlines that can't be fulfilled. Attracts very disadvantaged students who have no GCSEs who are not interested in learning about music.  Interviewing and intakes is done by staff who don't run the course! So a Media staff member will interview for Music Performance and vice versa resulting in students being there who are very unqualified. Emphasis on meeting targets, funding, statistics and filling up numbers rather than talent. Many talented staff leave. End up being a social worker of sorts. If you train with them stuck in a contract with them for years. Burn out is regular and Head Office doesn't care less about staff.  Management spend the whole time in their office moody and stressed out only appearing to rant at people if they've missed a deadline. It's like an out of control low quality youth centre. Music facilities are a joke. No pianos

A typical day at work for me is dealing with my staff members. I always try and make myself available to support staff and in some cases, sacrificing my own agenda to do so. I feel that in doing this, I have gained trust and loyalty from my staff members. 

I have learned a great deal in my current role and it has allowed me to reflect on my self as an individual and as a manager. I feel that I am a very understanding manager and try and be as flexible as I can be with staff members in the intense FE sector. 

I feel that I have not been managed correctly within this role and feel unsupported by my superiors. Working with a nationwide company has its flaws as the central management team are located in Manchester, whereas I am the head of the York centre. Often communication from them can be minimal. I am a firm believe of teamwork and sometimes, it feels like we are left to our own devices. 

The hardest is part of the job is combining two job roles. Currently, I am head of college as well as curriculum leader. Both of which are very intense jobs in their own right. I am currently doing both. Nevertheless, I am driven to succeed. Working extra hours for almost 3 years is a testament to my commitment but more importantly, this has been reflected with the improvements with learner attendance, retention and success year on year. 

The most enjoyable part of the job without question is seeing staff and students exceed their expectations.

I have worked here for 10+ years and feel compelled to write something after seeing some of the negative reviews on here. 

Access Creative college has been through a huge change over the past 10 years from small music provider to mainstream media college in great locations and with amazing facilities. As you might expect in any organisation, a change of that scale has seen some challenges, however ACC has been committed to growth in a climate where many other providers have folded. It genuinely feels now like the organisation is hitting a confident stride, its systems and processes are really well honed and the team work nationally amongst my team over the past few years has been excellent. Management are supportive and the staff team in Bristol are very positive in their commitment to providing a really great education for young creatives. I really enjoy working here.  

The opportunities for young people that come here are amazing, they are given great tutoring , advice and guidance from tutors who really care and work really hard to achieve that.

I have enjoyed my time at ACC so far. The team are fantastic people to work with and I have found working with the young people to be fulfilling - yes, there are inevitable challenges with working with 16 year olds, but there are some very bright and engaged students here that are doing great things. 

I have received really good support as somebody with minimal teaching experience. I have been mentored by a much more experienced staff member who has given me great guidance. I am trained and supported in centre by my line manager and other leaders in centre and my initial days were supported by meetings to help me find my way. I am getting teacher training. I feel like I am being given great opportunities to develop myself into a lasting career. 

The best thing is the team. Some of the best people I have ever worked with, all working towards the same thing - Supporting students to be the best they can be. They are funny but professional and make it a great place to be. I see myself being here for a lot longer, but I can also see how I am on my way to what I hope will be a long career in education. 

Above are just some of the words that spring to mind when I think about working for ACC.  I should also have added 'pride' because I feel proud of my colleagues and myself when I think about how far we have come and what we are now.  

Staff at ACC are passionate about what they do.  The teaching staff deliver high-quality, engaging, specialist training that empowers young people, giving them the education and confidence to make a career in the creative industries.

Teaching staff are supported by a central service team who work hard in the background to devise the curriculum, market our courses, find the learners, train & recruit staff,  provide payroll services, make sure we are all working safely, provide resources to support learning, make sure that the company is financially healthy, etc etc.

There has been a lot of change at ACC to make it what it is today but my colleagues are an entrepreneurial, boundary-pushing, resilient bunch.

The culture at ACC is in the title.  I'm proud that my work contributes to the education and development of our young people.  The future of the creative industries...

To find a privately funded college with a social conscience is highly unusual but Access Creative College definitely has this.   The place is unbelievably good to work for, an ethos that's caring yet still professional, running from the very top to the bottom ensures this.  

The technology there is state of the art and the company which once had humble beginnings, ensures that learners irrespective of background are given ample opportunity to excel in their chosen careers.  The college also ensures learners are equipped with the soft skills necessary to succeed in the Creative Industries, and also the wider job market.  The staff are industry specialists and have strong links with the music, media and computer games industries, so learners start their work life able to network with potential work bases.  My time spent working there served to make me believe in myself in all I do.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Access Creative College become far more well-known over the next few years as the place with the best technology, best staff and best students!

If you are interested in learning how to pull one on Ofsted all year round, then this is for you. If you are interested in setting up the most disadvantaged and marginalised of students to fail, then this is for you. If you are looking to be ostracised in a toxic work environment driving talented students and staff away, then this is for you. If you are looking to make excuses for ill-equipped facilities and poor quality instruction resulting in hundreds of students projected to fail, then this is for you. If you are looking to raise the confidence of students or provide them with the tools they need to thrive, then this isn't for you. If you are looking for an inclusive and progressive work environment, this isn't for you. If you are looking to have your entire personal life consumed by the day-to-day bullying and incompetence of your professional life for a measly salary, this is for you. If you have a moral compass, than this is definitely not for you. In short, the students deserve better and so do you. 


Top Job Titles	Average salary
Lecturer 19 salaries reported	£27,110 per year
Shift leader 8 salaries reported	£31,991 per year
Support associate 8 salaries reported	£21,191 per year
Technician 13 salaries reported	£25,997 per year
Administrator 4 salaries reported	£27,085 per year

Working at Access Creative College: company overview and reviews

Access Creative College

Access Creative College ratings

Popular jobs at Access Creative College

Salary satisfaction

Jobseeker tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected