Cornwall Hill College

This is not a complaint about the school’s education, facilities, or administration, but rather about a specific department head. This is a warning to any music teachers who are considering applying for a position at Cornwall Hill College. The music academy has an excessively high turn over rate, with several music teachers resigning each year. And it is all due to the mismanagement by the department head. Even the current teachers are very unhappy, but dare not speak up, because their contracts created by said department head includes a clause that states that she can fire them without cause or warning. And it has apparently happened in the past, that when someone had stood up about the injustices, that they were fired immediately. And so, Cornwall has lost some of the most respected and brilliant music teachers throughout the years and continue to lose excellent teachers all the time. Similarly, any prominent and established teachers do not wish to be associated with the school. The concerns are that the head of department lacks organisational skills, social skills, communication skills, any leadership skills and her level of unprofessionalism is unfathomable. If you apply for a position there, you will be mistreated, screamed at, rudely insulted, and degraded. I have heard how she tells colleagues they are unrecognisable because they had picked up too much weight over the holidays. Or how she pretends to not recognise colleagues after working together for months to try to make them feel unwelcome and insignificant. If you ask for basic information about school events and concerts that have not been communicated and is not listed on the relevant platforms, you will be informed of your own apparent incompetence. Furthermore, as a result, music functions at the school are very poorly organised and poorly managed and often arranged at the very last moment. Unrealistic demands are also set, for example, you will be expected to provide information requested via emails within hours or you will be scolded, but your own emails will remain unanswered. In the case that they are responded to, it will only be weeks later, and it will not include any relevant answers to your questions asked. Most of the other academic staff at the school have mentioned that they have just given up even trying to communicate or make arrangements with the music department. Consequently, there is a major divide between the music department and the rest of the school, which is accompanied by a negative attitude towards any of the music department’s endeavours. Unfortunately, the department head’s actions are also reflecting poorly on the school’s reputation. As it is often the case at music festivals, eisteddfods, competitions etc. that Cornwall’s admin is always late, lacking information and the information provided is incorrect. So much so, that I have heard organisers at national competitions say they wished Cornwall would rather not even enter, because it isn’t worth the administrative hassle. As an example - there was a disaster with the travel arrangements for one of the orchestra’s recent tours. The airlines were blamed, but it is observable that none of the other schools had issues with their flights. What is the school doing about it? The authorities of the school are wonderful, and they are aware of the situation and trying to build a case. But current teachers do not want to come forward as they fear losing their jobs, and those that have already left are not part of the school anymore and do not wish to be involved. So, even though most music teachers in Gauteng are familiar with the situation, this is a note of caution to young music teachers who might not be aware. Even if you are looking for your first position, the salary is not on par, and definitely not worth the pain and sorrow that you are likely to endure. So many have thought: “How bad can it be?” “I’ll be able to handle it”. But, it is that bad, and then they either leave, or stay completely broken. Rather just avoid.

Cornwall is a great school. The teachers there are really good at what they do.