FROM THE ADMINISTRATION

through sports and events. This will not only benefit the college financially, not a minor consideration, in itself, but also will continue to broaden the standing of the college in the community. At the same time, discussions are currently ongoing in terms of the College canteen and how the College can improve the ‘lunch’ experience for its students.

Staffing

Maintaining adequate levels of staffing remained a challenge, not just over the Covid period. It is little consolation that organisations across the board are reporting issues with recruiting the right staff. For us, particularly, we do not simply want staff, we want the best. And, perhaps to quote W. Somerset Maugham “It’s a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.” We have been lucky in attracting quality staff over the months and years. This is what makes the college so unique in the learning experience and ethos it provides.

This has a downside too. Highflyers are often forging careers so the time they spend at the college will not be long. This is not a question of push factors, in the vast majority of cases, but rather one of opportunity calling. The time of having a job for life is long over. At St Edward’s we are proud not simply to attract these people but also that we contribute to their formation.

Looking ahead

The months ahead, just as these past few months, will be busy ones. The day to day running of the college, in itself a considerable task, is only part of the story. Over the next few months, the various initiatives mentioned in this write up (which is by no means exhaustive) will start taking more shape and the college will be pushing for decisions from relevant authorities to ensure that the services it provides will remain of the highest levels possible.