Official information and FOI

Oriel places a high value on satisfying the legal obligations set out by the Freedom of Information Act (2000) and the Data Protection Act (1998). The links below have been published to provide a clear idea of the College’s mission, activities, and expenditures to encourage transparency as far as reasonably possible whilst maintaining confidentiality in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force on 25 May 2018. Oriel College is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal data.

Oriel’s Data Protection and Privacy Policies

Freedom of Information

It is important to us that our Freedom of Information policy and the associated Publication Scheme meet your needs. If you find the scheme difficult to understand, please let us know. We also welcome suggestions as to how the scheme might be improved.

Any questions, comments, or complaints about this scheme should be sent in writing to the Information Officer, Mrs Margaret Jones, at foi@oriel.ox.ac.uk or: The Office of the Treasurer, Oriel College, Oxford, OX1 4EW, United Kingdom.

Contact the Information Officer

Who We Are and What We Do

Oriel College is a constituent College of the University of Oxford. As such, it works with the central University to provide an enriching environment dedicated to the education of undergraduate and postgraduate students, and to the development of scholarship. The University’s publication scheme is available here, or by writing to the Information Officer: Information Officer University Offices, University of Oxford, Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JD.

information and documents

Oriel College was founded in 1326 by Adam de Brome. Originally called the House or Hall of the Blessed Mary at Oxford, the College first acted as a source of research and learning for graduate Fellows. From 1349 it was known as Oriel, a name derived from a large house, called ‘La Oriole,’ which had been located on the current site of the College’s front quad and was given to the College through a royal grant. To this day, the College’s full name is ‘The Provost and Scholars of the House of the Blessed Mary the Virgin in Oxford, commonly called Oriel College, of the Foundation of Edward the Second of famous memory, sometime King of England’. The site of the College, the original part of which is the front quadrangle, incorporates four medieval halls: St Mary Hall, Bedel Hall, Martin Hall, and Tackley’s Inn, the last being the oldest standing medieval hall in Oxford.

The primary purpose of the College, its Fellows and other academic staff, is academic, both teaching and research, and students are encouraged to see themselves as having joined a community with a shared purpose. The College offers undergraduate tuition in thirty-one subjects, with some of the most popular being History, Modern Languages, and PPE. Postgraduate students study subjects from all four academic divisions of the University, and each is assigned a College Advisor who is normally a Fellow of the College. Current numbers for undergraduates and postgraduates are approximately 300 and 180, respectively. As a constituent college of the University of Oxford, Oriel works closely with the University to maximise its members’ academic development and welfare.

The main site of the College is bordered by Magpie Lane, Merton Street, Oriel Square, King Edward Street and the High Street. A residential annexe, largely inhabited by finalists and postgraduate students, is located on Rectory Road, approximately ten minutes’ walk from the main site. The College’s sports grounds are located at the Bartlemas property approximately twenty minutes’ walk from the main site.

What we spend and how we spend it

Below are some quick links to frequently requested information regarding College expenditure.

Annual College Accounts 2023-2024

Annual College Accounts 2022-2023

Annual College Accounts 2021-2022

Annual College Accounts 2020-2021

Annual College Accounts 2019-2020

Priorities and Progress

The College’s Governing Body, consisting of the Provost and Fellows, is responsible for the academic, domestic, and financial administration of the College. It meets at the College Meeting in Weeks 1, 4, and 8 each term.

Information about the College’s priorities and committee structure can be found in our Annual Report (links above). Links to further information about the University can be found below.

University of Oxford Annual Review

About the University of Oxford

University of Oxford Strategic Plan 2018-2024

Conference of Colleges

How We Make Decisions

The Governing Body consists of the Provost and Fellows. It meets three times per term to discuss College business and make College-related decisions. Information about our Governing Body and other Committees can be found in our Annual Report (links above).

Links to further information about our decision-making processes can be found below.

Oriel College Statutes

Oriel College Bylaws

The University’s Governance Structure

Policies and Procedures

Below are some of the College’s Policies and Procedures – if you can’t find what you are looking for please contact the Information Officer.

Academic Disciplinary Procedures

Assistance Dogs Policy

Breastfeeding Policy

Bullying and Harassment Policy and Procedure

CCTV Code of Practice (WebLearn link for College members)

Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech

Conflict of Interest Policy

Donor Charter

Ethical Donations Policy

Equality and Diversity Policy

Public Sector Equality Duty: Review and Renewal of Objectives

Parking Policy

Public Sector Equality Duty

Fire Safety Policy

Flag Flying Policy

Fundraising Complaints Procedure

Health and Safety Policy and Procedures

Non-Academic Disciplinary Procedures

Policy on Personal Relationships at Work

Safeguarding Policy

Social Media Policy

Student Complaint Procedures

Student Migration Policy

Vulnerable Persons Policy (fundraising)

Whistleblowing Policy

Lists and Registers

Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the authority (e.g. lists of registers of testing and inspection). Please contact the Information Officer at the contact details above if you require information of this nature.

COVID-19 Documentation

The College is committed to maintaining a healthy and safe place to work, study and live at all times, and particularly so during the COVID-19 pandemic. The College has undertaken a comprehensive Risk Assessment which identifies who within our community is at risk and what control measures are being introduced in order to mitigate the risk of contracting and spreading the COVID-19 virus. The Risk Assessment also identifies who is responsible for implementing and maintaining the control measures. Everyone within our community and those that visit the College all have a part to play in ensuring their own safety and that of others; Students, Academic Staff, Administrative & Support Staff, Contractors and Visitors.

Please read the Risk Assessment via the link above to better understand your responsibilities as they relate to the control measures that we are implementing and which will need to be maintained in order to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading the COVID-19 virus.

Oriel College COVID-19 Risk Assessment – Updated 8th April 2022

Gender Pay Gap Report

All employers with 250 or more employees are required under legislation to report on their Gender Pay Gap. Oriel College has fewer than 250 employees; however we have taken the decision to voluntarily report this information. You can find the latest Gender Pay Gap reports for the College here.