Towards a sustainable future – Board Chair Hugh Lindo
I n 2020, College concluded a five-year strategy that focused on ensuring an equitable student experience across all our co-curricular programmes, a more individualised approach for each boy, the introduction of Round Square IDEALS, and an emphasis on health and wellbeing. Strategy 2025 “Change and Continuity” takes us towards our 175th anniversary. Its themes are Motivation, Connection, Philanthropy and Sustainability. We are committed to being a sustainably unique and thriving institution as we move to 2025 and beyond. The key to implementing that strategy is having the financial freedom to do so. By that, we mean ensuring that the College’s financial performance is such that we can deliver and enhance our value proposition, continue to invest in programmes, infrastructure and facilities and do that from a strong and sustainable financial base. As part of our campus master- planning we have committed the capital necessary to deliver our
wonderful Upper West project. This is an inter-generational facility that will enhance our students experience from late 2023 onwards. We have been grateful and humbled by the philanthropic support that we have received from our community to help fund the cost of Upper West. We will continue to reach out to our community for the same support that has enabled us to progress Upper West. Philanthropy, in all its forms, be it the giving of time, talent or treasure continues to be fundamental to the ongoing sustainability of the school. As we have continued to invest in our programmes and infrastructure the College has not generated an operational surplus. It is able to cover the shortfall with a combination of debt and support from the College Foundation. The Financial Update set out below records a surplus for the year to 31 January 2022 but this is only because of one- off gains from the sale of the old Christchurch Girls’ High School
site on the corner of Cranmer Square and a rezoned section of land on Worsleys Spur. The funds from these sales will be spent on the Upper West project and otherwise added to the capital of our Foundation. College must remain accessible and affordable to those who place education as a high priority and the cost of our offering cannot place the school beyond reach. While the College roll – 700 boys – is very close to capacity, our fee income does not cover the cost of the day-to-day operation of the school. The programmes that we offer and our heritage campus are unique to Christ’s College but require a significant amount of investment to maintain. Operational costs will continue to increase presenting further financial challenges for the school. College has two financial objectives. Firstly, to generate a modest operating surplus, and secondly to increase the capital of the Foundation. This
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SUSTAINABILITY
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