Applying for a place at SFX

Admissions Policy and Procedure

All applicants are advised to consult their careers teacher, Connexions advisor and/or member of staff responsible for liaison with the college before applying to SFX. Applications are welcomed from students who wish to continue their education in a Christian environment and who are prepared to support the ethos of the college.

Application forms and copies of this prospectus are distributed through partner schools (see below), apart from La Retraite, and forms will be collected direct from these schools in December. Partner school students who do not receive an application form this way and all other applicants may obtain an application form and prospectus at Open Day or upon request from the college.

Applications, other than those collected from schools, will be acknowledged by return of post provided that the acknowledgement card has been completed and a stamp affixed.

Applicants will be offered an interview for a place if:

• The application form is submitted by the first Friday in December; applications received after this date will be considered if there is a space on the subject/course for which they have applied.
• There is an acceptable reference and a place on the chosen subject/course at SFX is recommended by their school.
• Students who meet these requirements will be invited to an interview at the College. Letters notifying interview dates are sent to all applicants. A parent or guardian must accompany the student to the interview.

Places will be offered to students in March for specific programmes of study subject to the following conditions:

• Attendance at the interview on the date agreed.
• Partner school students will receive priority when applying for places on Level 1 & 2 courses.
  
• The student is following a course at school which will enable that student to meet SFX course entry requirements (see prospectus details).
• Students who apply after the December deadline will be placed on a waiting list for interviews.
• Students must confirm acceptance by the date specified in the offer letter otherwise the place will be withdrawn.
• Students who are made offers of a place will be enrolled between 1st and 3rd September 2010 providing:
  
  • They have satisfactorily completed Yr11 at their current school.
  • They have achieved the grades required in a conditional offer.
  • They have attended enrolment/induction on the notified date.
  • The course applied for continues to be offered.
• At enrolment in the event of over-subscription on a subject or course, priority is given to students in the following order:
  

1. Level of achievement of published exam entry requirements
2. Attendance at one of the following Partner schools:
   i. Bishop Thomas Grant School, Streatham
   ii. John Paul II School, Wimbledon
   iii. La Retraite High School, Balham
   iv. Notre Dame High School, Southwark
   v. St Michael’s RC School, Bermondsey
   vi. St Thomas the Apostle College, Peckham
   vii. Sacred Heart RC School, Camberwell
   viii. Salesian College, Battersea
3. In the event of the need to choose between students attending one of the partner schools and following that in choosing between students from other institutions priority will be given to students in the following order.
   i. Subject/course chosen by student on application form
   ii. Date application was received by the college.
   iii. Distance of travel to the college using the most direct public transport route.

Additional Note: We offer BTEC courses in a range of areas that enable progression to further/higher education or areas of employment; our admission criteria for these courses in the event of over subscription are the same as for our general academic courses. However, we also offer vocational training in Nursery Nursing where the admission criteria in the event of over subscription will be based upon the above, but criteria 2 and 3i will not apply.

Interviews

The interview will allow students and parents to discuss the courses available at SFX and to negotiate with staff a course of study based upon existing knowledge, skills and experience. Students attending interviews must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Interviews last 15-20 minutes.

Enrolment and Induction

Enrolment and induction will take place on specified days between 1st and 3rd September 2010. Details of the arrangements will be enclosed with the letter offering a place. Students must be present on their enrolment day to present their examination results slips. The college does not guarantee a place for students who miss their induction day.

Opportunities to View the College

Partner schools student are offered the opportunity in Year 10 to look round the College as part of a programme of visits.

Please note that Open Day was on Saturday 14th November 2009 but further opportunities to view the college can be arranged on most Monday evenings between 4.00 and 7.00p.m. Please telephone the Admissions Department on 020 8772 6072 to make an appointment.

Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

EMA is a weekly payment for eligible students who continue their education in Year 12 and Year 13. The weekly payments are intended to help you cover the day-to-day costs such as travel, books and equipment. Payments are made into your bank account if you attend and do well on your course.

For more information and eligibility criteria visit: www.direct.gov.uk/ema

Fees

There are no tuition fees at St Francis Xavier Sixth Form College for full-time students from within the European Union under the age of 19 years on 1 September 2010. Home student fees may be charged for students aged 19 or over.

All students pay an ICT Package fee of £25 at enrolment and some subjects have a book fee/materials charge. Details of these are available from the administration department.

We pay examination fees, but reserve the right to charge students in cases where entry is not recommended by the college.

It should be noted that the curriculum offer is subject to the availability of specialist staff at the start of the academic year.