Freedom of Information

This publication scheme follows the model prepared and approved by the Information Commissioner. This College makes information available to the public as part of its normal activities. The information covered is included in the classes of information mentioned below, where this information is held by the College.

The College intends:

  • to publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information which is held by the authority and falls within the classifications below;
  • to specify the information which is held by the College and falls within the classifications below;
  • to publish or otherwise make available as a matter of routine, information described in this scheme;
  • to publish the methods by which information is routinely made available so that it can be easily identified and accessed by members of the public;
  • to review and update on a regular basis the information the authority makes available under this scheme;
  • to produce a schedule of any fees charged for access to information which is made available;
  • to make this publication scheme available to the public.

Classes of Information

Who we are and what we do.
Organisational information, locations and contacts, constitutional and legal governance.
What we spend and how we spend it.
Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts.
What our priorities are and how we are doing.
Strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections and reviews.
How we make decisions.
Policy proposals and decisions.  Decision making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations.
Our policies and procedures.
Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities.
Lists and Registers.
Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the College.
The Services we Offer.
Advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and media releases.  A description of the services offered.

The classes of information will not generally include:

  • Information the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or is otherwise properly considered to be protected from disclosure.
  • Information in draft form.
  • Information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in files that have been placed in archive storage, or is difficult to access for similar reasons.

The method by which information published under this scheme will be made available

The College will indicate clearly to the public what information is covered by this scheme and how it can be obtained.

Where it is within the capability of the College, information will be provided on its website.  Where it is impracticable to make information available on its website or when an individual does not wish to access the information by the website, the College will indicate how information can be obtained by other means and provide it by those means.

In exceptional circumstances some information may be available only by viewing in person. Where this manner is specified, contact details will be provided.  An appointment to view the information will be arranged within a reasonable timescale.

Information will be provided in the language in which it is held or in such other language that is legally required.  Where an authority is legally required to translate any information, it will do so.

Obligations under disability and discrimination legislation and any other legislation to provide information in other forms and formats will be adhered to when providing information in accordance with this scheme.

Charges which may be made for Information published under this scheme

The purpose of this scheme is to make the maximum amount of information readily available at minimum inconvenience and cost to the public.  Charges made by the College for routinely published material will be justified and transparent and kept to a minimum.

Material which is published and accessed on the College’s website will be provided free of charge.

Charges may be made for information subject to a charging regime specified by Parliament.

Charges may be made for actual disbursements incurred such as:

  • photocopying
  • postage and packaging
  • the costs directly incurred as a result of viewing information

Charges may also be made for information provided under this scheme where they are legally authorised, they are in all the circumstances, including the general principles of the right of access to information held by public authorities, justified and are in accordance with a published schedule or schedules of fees which is readily available to the public.
If a charge is to be made, confirmation of the payment due will be given before the information is provided.  Payment may be requested prior to provision of the information.

Written Requests

Information held by the College that is not published under this scheme can be requested in writing, when its provision will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

Complaints Procedure

The College has a review procedure for dealing with complaints.  To invoke this procedure you should write to the Freedom of Information Officer, St John’s College, Cambridge, CB2 1TP stating your reasons for the request for a review.  A College Officer, other than the person who has made the original decision and, therefore against whom the complaint has been made, will review the issue and make a decision.

Who we are and what we do
Organisational information, structures, locations and contacts.

Legal framework
The Charter of the College (in Latin) is here and an unofficial translation is here.
The Statutes of the College are here.
The Standing Orders of the College are here.

How the institution is organised
The College is administered by the Master and the College Council under the ultimate authority of the Governing Body, comprising the Master and all the Fellows (here) of the College in accordance with the Statutes (here) of the College and with the Standing Orders (here), which are made by the Council or, in a few cases, by the Governing Body.  The College Council normally meets fortnightly during term time.  The Governing Body normally meets termly.  Rules relating to elections to the College Council and to meetings of the Council and of the Governing Body may be found in the Statutes and Standing Orders of the College.
The principal officers of the College include the Master, the President, the Senior Bursar, the Senior Tutor, the Domestic Bursar, the Tutors and the Deans, who are subject to the duties specified in the Statutes and Standing Orders of the College.  The educational work of the College is performed by Directors of Studies, Tutors, College Lecturers and Supervisors.
The Council appoint various standing and ad hoc committees, whose membership and terms of reference are shown in Appendix I of Standing Orders.  The standing committees include the Audit Committee, as required by the Statutes.

Location and contact details
Location and contact details may be found here.

Lists of and information relating to organisations for which the College has responsibility, those it works in partnership with, those it sponsors and companies wholly owned by it
The Governance and administration of St John’s College School is governed by the Articles of Association of St John’s College School, Cambridge, a company limited by guarantee with registered company number 13396877 (the School) and by the Relationship Agreement dated 10 September 2021 entered into between the College and the School.The School has its own website here.

The College’s principal trading and dormant subsidiary undertakings are:

Undertaking

Activity

St John’s Enterprises Limited

The provision of conference facilities and tourism administration at St John’s College, Cambridge.  The Company also undertakes activities in relation to medical insurance for the College. Hard copy of publication scheme available on request.

   

Aquila Investments Limited

Building construction and repair, property development, fuel supply and farming. Hard copy of publication scheme  available on request.

             

St John’s Innovation Centre Limited

The provision of administrative and business support to tenants of St John’s Innovation Centre and the encouragement of commercial application of intellectual property. Hard copy of publication scheme available on request.

   

Lomas Developments Limited

Property development.  Hard copy of publication scheme available on request.

   

St John's College Development Limited

Dormant.

Aquivar Management Services Limited

Dormant.

These companies have their own publication schemes, which are available on request.

Student activities
The principal student associations in the College are the Junior Combination Room (comprising both undergraduates and graduate students) and the Samuel Butler Room (comprising graduate students).  The constitutions of those associations may be found in Standing Orders.
The Junior Combination Room have their own website here.
The Samuel Butler Room have their own website here.
The College also has a number of clubs and societies, as to which see the website here.

What we spend and how we spend it
Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, procurement, contracts and financial audit.

Financial information for the current and previous three  financial years is available as described below.  Information for earlier years is available free of charge on application to the Freedom of Information Officer.
 

Funding / income
The funding of the College derives from College fees and charges to senior and junior members as in Schedule 1 to the Standing Orders, the College’s investment portfolio and other property, donations, and Gift Aid receipts from its wholly-owned companies. The income and expenditure of the College and the College’s investment policy and investment portfolio are described in further detail in the College Accounts here.

Budgetary and account information
The College Accounts are here.
Financial audit report
Copies of the independent auditors’ annual reports to the Governing Body of the College are contained within the College’s accounts which may be found here.
Financial regulations and procedures
Financial regulations and procedures are included in the Standing Orders of the College.
Staff pay and grading structures
Paper on request from Freedom of Information Officer.
Gender Pay Gap Report
A copy of our Gender Pay Gap Report may be found here.
Register of suppliers
The College does not have an approved list of suppliers, but in order to obtain best value for money engages in various consortium purchasing arrangements.  The details of those arrangements are not included in this publication scheme for reasons of commercial confidentiality. 
Procurement and tender procedures and reports
The College is not a public authority for the purpose of European Law relating to tendering requirements.  Its normal practice in relation to capital works is to procure them through a tendering process.
Contracts
The College does not publish details of its commercial contracts.
Research funding
The College funds its own scheme of Research Fellowships, details of which may be found here. It also supports a number of senior and junior research studentships.  The College has funding schemes to assist the research of its Fellows and students, which may be found in the Standing Orders.

What our priorities are and how we are doing
Strategies and plans, performance indicators, audits, inspections and reviews.

Annual report
The Annual Review of the College, which is published in its annual Accounts, may be found here. The College magazine The Eagle is available for download here.
Corporate and business plans
The College annual five-year strategic plan may be obtained on paper by request.   
Teaching and learning strategy
The College’s Teaching and Learning Strategy is available on request.  

Academic quality and standards
The academic assessment of students at the College is conducted through Tripos and other University examinations (for undergraduates) and through the Board of Graduate Studies of the University (for graduate students).  Information may be found on the University’s website: http://www.cam.ac.uk.  Information about related College procedures can be found in the Standing Orders of the College and in the Student Handbook.
Government and regulatory reports
The College prepares an annual Public Benefit Report and other returns to the Charity Commission following its registration as a registered charity.

How we make decisions
Decision-making processes and records of decisions.

Minutes from Governing Body, Council / Senate, academic boards and steering groups
Minutes of the Governing Body and unreserved Minutes of the Council may supplied on paper by request.

Appointment committees and procedures
Minutes of appointments committees are not published because they contain personal information. Advertisements for employment within the College, and the relevant appointment procedures, may be found here.

Our policies and procedures
Current written protocols, policies and procedures for delivering our services and responsibilities.

Policies and procedures for conducting College business
The Standing Orders of the College (with Appendices) including reference to codes of practice, may be found here.  
Procedures and policies relating to academic services
On request.  
Procedures and policies relating to student services
On request.  
Procedures and policies relating to human resources
On request.  
Procedures and policies relating to recruitment
Current vacancies at the College may be found here.
Code of Conduct for members of governing bodies
The College’s code relating to conflict of interests may be found in Standing Orders.
Equality and Diversity
The College is committed to equal opportunities in the recruitment of its Fellows, students and staff. 
Freedom of Speech
The College’s Statement on Freedom of Speech may be found here.
Health and Safety
The College’s Health and Safety Statement and Policy may be found here.
Estate management
Paper on request.
The College's policy regarding the release of section 29 covenants is found here.
Complaints policy
The Complaints Policy is in the introduction to this Publication Scheme.
Records management and personal data policies
Paper on request.  
Research policy and strategy
Paper on request.  
Modern Slavery Act
Our Modern Slavery Act Statement may be found here.
Prevention of the facilitation of tax evasion
Our statement on the prevention of the faciliation of tax evasion can be found here.
Charging regimes and policies
Details of the fee and charges levied by the College may be found in Standing Orders.  Details of charges made for the provision of information included in this publication scheme are available on application.

Lists and registers

Any information we are currently legally required to hold in publicly available registers
There is none.
Asset registers
Details of the College’s principal landholdings are available in hard copy on request.
Disclosure logs
The College does not maintain a disclosure log. 
Register of gifts and hospitality provided to senior personnel
No register is considered necessary as business gifts and hospitality received by College personnel are of negligible value only.
Any register of interests kept in the College
Applications for information contained in the College’s register of interests should be made to Freedom of Information Officer.

The services we offer
Information about the services we offer, including leaflets, guidance and newsletters.

Prospectus
The College undergraduate admissions prospectus is available here and a virtual tour is available here.
The University undergraduate and graduate admissions information may be found here.
Services for outside bodies
The College does not normally provide services for outside bodies. 
Course content
Undergraduate course content information may be found here.

Welfare and counselling
Information concerning welfare and counselling services for students may be found here. Information concerning the University Counselling Service may be found at www.counselling.cam.ac.uk.
Health including medical services
Information concerning the College Nurse and health services available to students may be found here
Information on health and safety in the College is available here.
Careers
Careers advice is available to members of the College at www.careers.cam.ac.uk.  
Chaplaincy services
Information concerning the religious life of the College may be found here and information regarding the College Chaplain may be found here
Services for which the College is entitled to recover a fee together with those fees  
Information concerning College fees and charges may be found in Standing Orders.
Sports and recreational facilities
Information concerning College sporting and recreational facilities can be found here.
Museums, libraries, special collections and archives
Information concerning the College Library and Archives, including special exhibitions, may be found here
Conference facilities
Information concerning the College’s catering and conference facilities may be found here. Further information is available on the Conference Cambridge website here.
Advice and guidance
Information concerning the Tutorial system and Direction of Studies, and other information concerning advice and guidance available to members of the College may be found in the Student Handbook and in the Guide to Student Behaviour.  
Local campaigns
Information concerning the College’s Alumni Office and the College Appeal may be found here
Media releases
Press releases issued by the College may be found here