Welcome to Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Sixth Form College

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Sixth Form College. Here, you will find more than just a place to study – you will become part of a dynamic, supportive, and inclusive community. Our college brings together ambitious, curious, and compassionate young people who are ready to embrace new opportunities and to challenge themselves to reach their full potential.

At Saint Francis Xavier, we believe in developing the whole person. Our commitment goes beyond academic achievement; we aim to equip you with the confidence, values, and skills needed to thrive in higher education, employment, and life beyond college. With an extensive range of A levels, BTECs, UAL Diplomas and T Levels, our students benefit from expert teaching in modern, state-of-the-art facilities.

Our recent Ofsted inspection in November 2023 endorsed the quality of our work, recognising our college as Good or Outstanding in all categories. This is a testament to the dedication of our staff and the success of our students. We take immense pride in our outstanding achievement rates and the impressive destinations our students secure — whether that’s university, further training, or rewarding employment.

From the moment you join us, you will be supported every step of the way. Our dedicated teachers and pastoral team are here to provide guidance, encouragement, and practical advice — ensuring you are well-prepared for your next steps, whatever they may be. We are committed to creating an environment where every student feels valued, respected, and inspired to become a leader who makes a positive impact in the world.

Our college community is built on gospel values and mutual respect, reflected in our core principles: Kindness, Service, Faith, Inclusion, Courage, Honesty, Respect, and Forgiveness. Inspired by the words from St. Matthew’s Gospel to “be the light that gives light to the world,” we encourage all our students not only to achieve their personal best, but also to become ethical and compassionate members of society.

I am excited about the journey ahead and look forward to welcoming you to Saint Francis Xavier in September 2026.

With my very best wishes,

Graham Thompson

PRINCIPAL

Our Mission Statement

Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Sixth Form College is an inclusive educational community rooted in the Catholic faith with Christ at its centre. Our aim is to provide a broad curriculum which emphasises the pursuit of excellence and focuses on career preparation, leadership and service to others. We are committed to preparing the whole person to lead a life of purpose and success in a just and sustainable world.

We express our commitment in the following values:
Kindness | Service | Faith | Inclusion | Courage | Honesty | Respect | Forgiveness

Our Ethos and Values

A sixth form college with brilliant results, we offer a wide choice of A level, BTEC, CTEC, UAL and T Level courses for 16-18 year olds.  We are a diverse and compassionate community built upon a core Catholic ethos that is reflected in our values. We warmly welcome students from all faiths, cultures and backgrounds.

Quality teaching and an enriched educational experience provide our students with the freedom to learn in their own way, underpinned by the support of our excellent teachers and dedicated learning, welfare and careers teams.

Bridging the step between school and university, training or employment, we commit to developing our students personally and spiritually, and helping them succeed in all aspects of life.

Our values are:

• Kindness
• Service
• Faith
• Inclusion
• Courage
• Honesty
• Respect
• Forgiveness

Our History

There has been a school on the site of Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Sixth Form College for over 100 years

The first school to occupy the site was Clapham College, a fee-paying school for day boys and boarders, which became a state-funded grammar school in 1944. In 1975, Clapham College Grammar School amalgamated with the nearby Saint Gerard’s RC Secondary Modern on Clapham Road to become Clapham College School for Boys RC Comprehensive. Both were voluntary-aided, ILEA (Inner London Education Authority)/ RC Diocese-managed secondary schools. To accommodate the new intake, new buildings arrived to join the refurbished Victorian buildings (refurbished again in 2014).

In 1985, Clapham College moved to another site to make way for the first-ever sixth form college in inner London, Saint Francis Xavier. This was at the time a revolutionary move as there was no other school or college in the area which could match the breadth of courses offered at Saint Francis Xavier Sixth Form College, the first college in London dedicated to the education of 16-19 year-olds across the ability range.

The college is named after Saint Francis Xavier, a Basque Roman Catholic missionary who travelled extensively (he is buried in Goa, India) and whose life is celebrated by schools and colleges named after him all over the world. He epitomises the international  spirit which is the hallmark of Saint Francis Xavier Sixth Form College today, with students coming here to study from not only the whole of London, but also from much of Europe and many countries overseas.

As early as the late 80s the College had established a reputation for academic excellence and was sending students to top universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, but also pioneered the development of the vocational curriculum with BTEC courses, still a strength of the College today along with traditional academic A levels.

The entrance to the College is the “new” entrance foyer, which came about in 2006.  We also gained new classrooms, a fitness suite and the Learning Resources Centre created on top of the foyer, giving us a fantastic library which is the envy of many other schools.