Alongside fundraising and school resources, the development finance package will allow the school to further increase its already extensive sporting facilities through the construction of a state-of-the-art sports centre with 50-metre, six lane pool, fitness suite and eight-court hall. The new netball and tennis courts, and athletics track are already close to completion.
The project forms part of the school’s wider strategic programme which has included the refurbishment of the existing Cripps library, recent construction of a new mathematics department as an extension to the school’s award winning sci-tec building, refurbishment of the Patrick Engineering Centre for Design, Engineering and Technology and creation of a modern languages hub.
Dominic Toriati, Bursar at Oundle School, said: “Securing this funding from HSBC will work with fundraising and school resources to ensure we are offering our pupils and the wider Oundle Community the very best teaching and facilities possible.”
Markus Keller, Area Director for Corporate Banking at HSBC said: “We’re thrilled to be supporting Oundle School on this phase of development. HSBC continues innovating to meet evolving customer expectations and needs, and we worked closely with the school to provide a flexible finance option that suited their requirements.”
Suzy Verma, HSBC’s Head of Public Sector & Education in the UK added: “This is a significant deal which underpins HSBC’s credentials in the education sector and our commitment to support a broad range of institutions. We’ve worked closely with the school to build a strategic funding package which will best support Oundle’s objectives for growth and pupil education and wellbeing. As it commences with this next exciting chapter we will continue to provide our support and on-the-ground expertise.”
The funding was arranged by Alison Cass, Relationship Director at HSBC. Oundle is an independent co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 11 to 18 and is the third largest independent co-educational day and boarding school in the UK. There are currently 1,110 pupils on roll at Oundle School, with 860 boarders and 250 day pupils. Also within the Corporation of Oundle School is Laxton Junior School, a day school for children aged 4 to 11.
The Sports Centre is expected to open at the end of 2019.
