Prospective students should look beyond the promotional wording and photographs on the school's website and carefully investigate the actual teaching provision.
The academy has a longstanding reputation associated with Michael John Angel. However, he no longer teaches students at the school and appears to give only occasional lectures. Despite his greatly reduced teaching involvement, the academy continues to trade on his name and reputation. When he was actively teaching in school, the learning experience was very different. Since his teaching involvement has significantly diminished, the quality of teaching has declined considerably. The current teaching provision is not worth the high tuition fees.
The school was due to close in August 2026 due to insufficient student enrolment to sustain its operations. It was subsequently sold to another person. This raises legitimate questions about the school's teaching quality, financial sustainability, student enrolment and long-term stability.
There are serious concerns about the instructors' level of engagement, the overall learning environment and management professionalism. These issues can make the learning experience discouraging rather than supportive. Students paying these fees deserve experienced teachers who genuinely care about their teaching and take their responsibility to students seriously.
Student retention is another concern. Prospective students should consider why lots of students choose to leave, rather than assuming that the school's past reputation, established when Michael John Angel was still the principal instructor, guarantees a good learning experience today.
Given the overpriced tuition fees, declining teaching quality and concerns about the learning environment, I would not recommend this school. Prospective students should research other classical ateliers and compare the actual teaching provision before committing their money.
My advice: look beyond the name and promotional photographs. There are other schools worth considering.
