Introduction
It follows as far as possible the standard format required by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) from January 2009. It sets out what information the College publishes or intends to publish, how the information can be accessed and whether or not a charge will be made for it.
The Information Officer is responsible for maintaining the scheme on behalf of the College.
The purpose of the scheme is to give a clear indication of which College publications are routinely accessible, so that the public can be informed as far as reasonably possible of the purpose and nature of college activities, and to assist in developing a greater culture of openness in general.
Through the scheme, the College endeavours to be as transparent as possible about its activities, while at the same time recognising that there are exemptions within the Act. All material associated with the definitions in the classes contained in the scheme are available either in hard copy, electronically or via the College website.
Any questions, comments, or complaints about this scheme should be sent in writing to:
Information Officer: The Treasurer
College: Christ Church
Address: St Aldates. Oxford, OX1 1DP
Email: treasurer@chch.ox.ac.uk
The college reserves the right to make a charge for printed copies of some documents available on the website to cover administrative costs.
Information which falls into the following categories is not published as part of the scheme:
the College does not hold the information;
the information is exempt under one of the FOI exemptions or Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) exceptions, or its release is prohibited under another statute;
the information is archived, out of date or otherwise inaccessible;
it would be impractical or resource-intensive to prepare the material for routine release.
1. Who we are and what we do
Christ Church is a unique institution, one of the largest colleges in the University of Oxford and at the same time the Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Oxford.
In 1525 Cardinal Wolsey obtained by letters patent permission to found a College on a magnificent scale; and the first stone of Cardinal College was laid on 17th July 1525. All the revenues of this Foundation fell to King Henry the Eighth on Wolsey’s attainder in 1529.
A second Foundation under the name of King Henry the Eighth’s College lasted only from 1532 to 1545, when the College was suppressed and its possessions again reverted to the King.
He then established, in November 1546, the Collegiate Foundation, styled “Ecclesia Christi Cathedralis Oxon: ex fundatione Regis Henrici Octavi”, traditionally known as “the House”. The corporate designation of the House remains, to the present day, “The Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Christ in Oxford of the Foundation of King Henry the Eighth”.
The Foundation of 1546 consisted of a Dean, 8 Canons, 100 Students (to which number one was added in 1664), 8 Chaplains, an Organist, 8 Lay Clerks, 8 Choristers, and 24 Almsmen.
King Henry the Eighth died within a few weeks of its foundation without having signed any Statutes for the House. The King’s draft Statutes formed the basis on which the House was governed without material alteration for more than three hundred years, until Ordinances were drawn up for Christ Church by the first Oxford University Commission in 1858 in exercise of powers conferred by the Oxford Act, 1854. These were replaced by The Christ Church, Oxford, Act, 1867. The Statutes then conferred were modified again by successive Commissions in 1882 and 1926, and by various Orders of Her Majesty in Council since then, including major revisions in 1963.
Download a short history of Christ Church prepared by the college archivist.
The purposes of the Foundation are the advancement of learning through teaching and research, and sustaining the Cathedral Church of the Diocese of Oxford, for which the Foundation maintains a choir and its related choir school.
The formal constitution of the foundation is set out in the Statutes which are available online.
The Governing Body has a number of standing committees. The most important of these are the Academic Committee (which considers teaching needs and larger questions of academic policy), the Finance Committee, the House Committee (which considers matters of internal domestic management and oversees conference and catering activities), the Development Committee (which plans fundraising strategy), and the Salaries Board (which considers matters regarding salaries and remuneration).
College Officers are listed on the college website here.
Academic Staff are listed on the college website here.
The college offers about 126 undergraduate places per year and 80-85 places to postgraduates who are admitted by the University.
Teaching
The college employs approximately 43 teaching fellows (Official or Fixed Term Students) and about the same number of lecturers who provide undergraduate teaching, act as college advisers for graduates, and graduate supervisors.
Research
All Official Students are required to undertake research. Details of their research interests may be found on the college website here. In addition, the college offers four Junior Research Fellowships a year, provides Studentships for professors and lecturers and supports research financially and through facilities
Student Services
Details of the facilities available in college for students may be found on our College intranet.
Chapel
Chapel: the Cathedral of the diocese of Oxford, which forms part of the foundation of Christ Church, serves also as the college chapel. Details of the Cathedral and the Cathedral Choir may be found on our website here. Details of college services may be found on our College Intranet.
Funding – Information about our funding can be found in the College Accounts, which are made available annually on the website via the Christ Church Publication Scheme.
Development and Alumni – Information on our Development Office and our Alumni Relations can be found on the Christ Church website here.
Conferences, Summer Schools and other related activities – Information about conferences and summer schools hosted by Christ Church can be found on the Christ Church website here.
2. What we spend and how we spend it
Accounts
Christ Church’s annual accounts are published on the central University website here: https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/organisation/finance-and-funding/financial-statements-of-the-Oxford-Colleges-2013-14 and on the Christ Church website here: Christ Church Publication Scheme.
Salaries and benefits
College salaries for academic staff are in accordance with Oxford University salary scales here: https://finance.admin.ox.ac.uk/salary-scales. You can find information about benefits and other staff policies in the Christ Church Employee Handbook on the College Intranet.
Fees and charges
The college fees payable by undergraduates and graduate students in the current year are:
Undergraduates without proof of eligibility for a UK Student Loan £5,692
Graduates (with the exception of MBA students) £2,036
MBA Students £3,150
Annual Charges for rooms and meals, together with information about the financial support available to junior members, are detailed annually in the annually produced booklet ‘Information and Regulations for Junior Members’ on the College Intranet.
Oversight and responsibility
The College's Investment Group advises Governing Body on the management of the College's financial resources, and the Finance Committee monitors these resources and advises on income and expenditure. These Committees are supported by the Treasurer's Office and the Steward’s Office.
Document Formats and fees
Printed versions of all documents produced by Christ Church and referred to on this page are available. A fee may be charged.
3. What our priorities are and how we are doing
Strategy and current projects: IN PREPARATION
College Accounts - http://www.ox.ac.uk/about/organisation/finance-and-funding/financial-statements-of-the-Oxford-Colleges-2013-14
Annual Review - here: http://www.ox.ac.uk/about/organisation/annual-review
About the University
Strategic Plan: https://governance.admin.ox.ac.uk/planning
University Administration Services staff.admin.ox.ac.uk/structure-and-organisation/professional-services-and-university-administration#sections
Conference of Colleges – planning and consultations, participation in University Committees and consultations
4. How we make decisions
Decision making process
The Governing Body of Christ Church comprises the Dean, Canons and Students. It is constituted and regulated in accordance with the College Statutes which are made from time to time by order of His Majesty in Council. The Governing Body has responsibility for the direction and management of the affairs of the College.
The Governing Body makes decisions with the help of Committees. The most important of these are the Academic Committee (which considers teaching needs and larger questions of academic policy), the Finance Committee, the House Committee (which considers matters of internal domestic management and oversees conference and catering activities), the Development Committee (which plans fundraising strategy), and the Salaries Board (which considers matters regarding salaries and remuneration).
Decisions are made in accordance with the College's By-laws and Blue Book available on the College Intranet.
Decisions are made in the context of intercollegiate policy decisions agreed amongst the Conference of Colleges and of the overall structure and governance [link to https://governance.admin.ox.ac.uk/governance] of the central University [https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/organisation/governance]
The Information and Regulations for Junior Members and the Employee Handbook explain how decisions concerning these members of the community are made. Both are available on the College Intranet.
Records of decisions
The College's Annual Accounts record financial and strategic decisions [Christ Church Publication Scheme]
Key decisions about the operation of the College are recorded in the minutes of Governing Body. Minutes of open business are available on specific request subject to an explanation of why the information is needed.
Document formats and fees
Printed versions of all documents produced by Christ Church and referred to on this page are available. A fee may be charged.
5. Our policies and procedures
The College's policies and procedures are set out in a number of documents and web pages:
Summary of the history of the College
Equality Policies
For the University of Oxford Integrated Equality Policy see https://edu.admin.ox.ac.uk/home Online or printed version
Harassment Policy. See also the University's Code of Practice on Harassment Including Bullying [https://edu.admin.ox.ac.uk/university-policy-on-harassment]
Online or printed version
Disability Discrimination Scheme and Access Guide
Health and Safety Policy Statement.
Available from the Steward’s Office, Christ Church Telephone: 01865 286580 jacqueline.folliard@chch.ox.ac.uk
For the University Statement on Health and Safety Policy see https://safety.admin.ox.ac.uk/health-and-safety-policy
Guidance on Confidentiality in Student Health and Welfare may be found on the Oxford University website.
FOIA Publication Scheme
The purpose of the scheme is to give a clear indication of which College publications are routinely accessible, so that the public can be informed as far as reasonably possible of the purpose and nature of college activities, and to assist in developing a greater culture of openness in general.
Through the scheme, the College endeavours to be as transparent as possible about its activities, while at the same time recognising that there are exemptions within the Act. All material associated with the definitions in the classes contained in the scheme are available either in hard copy, electronically or via the College website.
Any questions, comments, or complaints about this scheme should be sent in writing to:
Information Officer: The Treasurer
College: Christ Church
Address: St Aldates. Oxford, OX1 1DP
The college reserves the right to make a charge for printed copies of some documents available on the website to cover administrative costs.
Information which falls into the following categories is not published as part of the scheme:
the College does not hold the information;
the information is exempt under one of the FOI exemptions or Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) exceptions, or its release is prohibited under another statute;
the information is archived, out of date or otherwise inaccessible;
it would be impractical or resource-intensive to prepare the material for routine release.
Gender Equality Scheme and Action Plan
Environmental Policy
The University of Oxford Freedom of Speech Policy is accessible at:
https://gazette.web.ox.ac.uk/files/codeofpracticeonfreedomofspeech-1tono5092pdf
For the University of Oxford Codes of Practice see https://governance.admin.ox.ac.uk/legislation/statutes
Documents mainly pertaining to students
Documents
Information and Regulations for Junior Members available on the College Intranet.
Undergraduate admissions policies and procedures
Graduate admission policies and procedures
Complaints and Appeals – on academic and other disciplinary matters
Documents mainly pertaining to employees
Employee Handbook - available on the College Intranet.
Employee Safety Handbook - available on the College Intranet.
Documents and policies pertaining to information and information technology
Data Protection Policy
For University Policy, see https://compliance.admin.ox.ac.uk/
Computer Use, see University rules https://unioxfordnexus.sharepoint.com/sites/DIGITAL-HUB/SitePages/Rules-and-regulations.aspx
Library rules, see the Blue Book - available on the College Intranet.
6. Lists and registers
Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the authority
This includes lists of registers of testing and inspection, e.g. lifts and hoists, electrical and gas installations, scaffolding, water legionella testing, etc. This information is only available in hard copy.
7. The services we offer
The College's primary purpose is as a place of education and research. We offer support to leading researchers in their fields and admission to the most able undergraduates, whatever their background or financial circumstances, as well as admitting graduate students over a wide variety of disciplines.
Information on our admission policies, including widening access, can be found on our Admissions pages. You will also find details of Open Days for prospective applicants and of undergraduate courses of study and graduate subject areas.
For information regarding services for current students, including accommodation, welfare, sport and IT support, please see Information and Regulations for Junior Members and other information on our College Intranet.
In conjunction with the University the College offers generous bursaries and scholarships to assist students who might not otherwise be able to afford an Oxford education. More information on student funding is available on the University website [https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/fees-and-funding].
Information on current research undertaken by our Fellows and lecturers is available on our Academic and Research Staff pages.
The College Library is available to current students, Tutors and lecturers, and to others who wish to use it for research by arrangement with the Librarian. Details of the Library’s opening hours may be found on the Library pages of our website.
The College Archives are available to the general public for purposes of research by appointment with the Archivist. See our Archive webpage for more information.
The Picture Gallery is open to the public. Details of opening times and ticket prices can be found on our website.
The College is open to members of the public. Details of opening times and entry charges may be found on our website.
Christ Church Meadow is open to the public free of charge. Details of opening times can be found on our website.
The College's Chapel, which also serves as the Cathedral of the Diocese of Oxford, is a place of public worship and we publish service times and dates of Cathedral services on our website and on a Chapel term card available from our College Intranet.
The College publishes an Annual Report covering each calendar year, and Christ Church Matters, an alumni magazine, is produced twice a year by the Development and Alumni Office. Supplementary bulletins are issued more frequently through ‘ematters’.
Document formats and fees
Printed versions of all documents produced by Christ Church and referred to on this page are available. A fee may be charged.
8. Responsibility for the scheme
The Information Officer of the Christ Church has overall responsibility for the publication scheme. The person responsible for maintaining and managing the scheme is:
Information Officer: The Treasurer
College: Christ Church
Address: St Aldates, Oxford, OX1 1DP
Other formats
If you would like this scheme, or any of the information it covers, in a more accessible format, please contact the Information Officer to discuss additional ways in which the information may be made available to you.
Copyright
The copyright in this publication scheme and its contents is reserved to Christ Church.
Complaints
If you have any comments about this scheme or are not satisfied that information is being published in accordance with this scheme, you should contact the Information Officer in the first instance (address above). If you are still dissatisfied please write to the Head of House who will arrange for the matter to be reviewed internally.
The Very Revd the Dean
Christ Church
St Aldate’s
Oxford
OX1 1DP
If, after the investigation of your complaint, you are still dissatisfied you may refer your complaint to the Information Commissioner.
Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Review of the publication scheme
This guide to the information available and the operation of the scheme will be reviewed annually.
