Former employees have warned Oak Hill Theological College is no longer “a safe place” as reports emerge of a high staff turnover amid accusations of bullying by a senior leader.   

Sydney Tooth, previously director of Postgraduate Studies and lecturer in New Testament and Greek at the Christian training college in north London, has said she suffered extreme anxiety and depression after experiencing treatment which she describes as bullying by the college’s vice principal, Matthew Sleeman. 

Tooth, who has shared her story with Premier for the first time, said: “I repeatedly witnessed Matthew [Sleeman] respond passive aggressively to colleagues in faculty meetings, shout at other staff members, intimidate students, and make passive aggressive comments to questions I and others raised in meetings. He was repeatedly dismissive of certain staff members and made derogatory comments about them to me.  

“He reacted defensively when potential criticisms were made about him and avoided meetings with me that would involve difficult conversations.” 

In the past three years, at least 15 staff members have resigned from Oak Hill.   

Premier has spoken to former staff members who allege an “unhealthy culture” at the college, along with a tendency to “protect people in power”. It is alleged the college has demonstrated a “repeated unwillingness to say sorry when issues are identified.” 

Tooth said that despite her efforts to resolve the issues, Sleeman’s behaviour continued for “multiple years”, which led to her experiencing significant mental distress and at one point being signed off work.  

“I would go into my study in the morning and cry before starting work…My daughter started asking me why I was always crying. 

Read it all at Premier Christian News