All about: St Francis Xavier College

St Francis Xavier College, often referred to as SFX, is a Roman Catholic further education college based in south London, serving students aged largely between 16 to 19 years. With a decidedly Catholic ethos, it also offers adult education courses, while all students are required to attend one lesson of Religious Education each week. This article tells the reader all about SFX.

History and location

SFX College
St Francis Xavier College is a sixth form college, located on the borders of Clapham and Balham in south London. There are only three specialist sixth form colleges in central London, with SFX being the oldest as it was established in 1985. The college is situated at Malwood Road, in the London postcode area of SW12. The nearest London underground station is Clapham South, which is on the Northern Line. The nearest conventional railway stations are Balham and Clapham High Street. Named after Saint Francis Xavier, the college makes no apologies for its Roman Catholic outlook, with its mission statement asserting: "The ethos of this College is based firmly on Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life, and we constantly strive to create a positive experience of a Christian Community."

Learning and lifestyle

SFX offers academic and vocational qualifications, with a large variety of
'A' Level courses available, as well as offering BTEC courses in eight different areas. There are also specialist tutors at the college who work with students to help them to tailor their applications to universities. This project has enjoyed some success in recent years, with around
350 students successfully applying for places at universities each year. Over the last decade, 40 or so students have reached Oxford or Cambridge, while around 40 students have ended up going to the colleges of London University in 2010. However, SFX's work is not just about academic achievement. The college looks to help to develop the lives of its students with its Enrichment programme. This looks to develop skills and attributes which complement more conventional education, with a focus on activities such as Sports/Fitness, Current Affairs, Justice and Peace and Reflective Prayer, as well as Citizenship, History and Languages. This programme also looks to foster interest in arts, and the college acknowledges the prominent role played in the provision of this programme by the Physical Education, Sport and Recreation department. The SFX Fitness Suite is a particularly popular and an important resource for the Enrichment programme.