www.sfx.ac.uk

SFX held its biggestevent of the year THE SFX OSCARS2014! - see page 3

New: Starbucks coffee shop See page 7

SFX Oscars 2014 Page 3

A level results day 2014 Page 4

Star student interviewed live on BBC Radio Page 4

Wandsworth High Achievers event Page 5

5 minutes with...Cle - Performing Arts Teacher Page 6

New canteen and Starbucks! Page 7

SFX out and about Page 7

New course - BTEC Engineering Page 8

SFX HELD ITS ANNUAL‘SFX OSCARS’

MESSAGE FROMSTUDENT PRESIDENTAND VICE PRESIDENTHello and welcome to the fourth editionof SFX Life! As the Student President andVice President here at SFX we want you to know that it is a great place to come -it’s very different from staying at school,but in a good way as it gives you thechance to develop your independenceand confidence.In terms of our plans as studentpresidents, we are passionate aboutmaintaining the community feel thatexists here and very excited aboutbringing the student body together withevents and activities.

Our advice to you is as you take on thejump from Year 11 to Year 12, is to alwaysremember that hard work pays off andyou will be rewarded in the future. If youdecide to choose SFX as your place tostudy, it will be a place that you will beable to thrive, develop and enjoy!We look forward to meeting you if youdecide to join us in September 2015.Beryl and Rhia.

September 2014

Performing Arts students celebratedtheir talents again this year at theannual big Oscars style event. The redcarpet sparkled as the students arrivedin their glamorous dresses and suits,ready to hear whether they had beennominated or would walk away with oneof the prestigious awards. Ms Everett,Head of Performing Arts at SFX, hostedthe event with the help of SFX staff todeliver the awards. The audience waswowed with some fantasticperformance from our studentsincluding Beryl; the SFX StudentPresident, a dance duet from D’Jon andMonique and singing and dancing fromAbigail who got everyone up andclapping! Well done to all those whowere nominated and won!

Rhia (former Norbury Manor student) and Beryl (former St Marks Academy student) – SFX Student Presidents

Winners of BEST SCRIPTED PRODUCTION - THE CAST OF ‘METAMORPHOSIS’

Winner of BEST ACTOR - CARLOS

Winner of the STELLA FLANNERYAWARD FOR EXCELLENCE – ABIGAIL (former Burlington DaneSchool student)

Winner of BEST VOCALIST – BERYL

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And the winners are…Dance Awards:BEST SOLO CHOREOGRAPHY - RachelBEST DANCE DUET - D’Jon and MoniqueBEST GROUP CHOREOGRAPHY - EmilyBEST DANCER 2014 - ShonaDrama Awards:BEST ACTRESS 2014 - DolcieBEST ACTOR 2014 - CarlosBEST DIRECTOR 2014 - AgyeiwaaMusic Awards:BEST VOCALIST - BerylBEST ORIGINAL SONG 2014 - Cast of Madras Central (‘Cries for Help’)BEST GROUP MUSIC PERFORMANCE 2014 - Cast of The TFL Riverside Boat Cruise(‘It’s Christmas Time’)BEST DRESSED MAN - IfeBEST DRESSED WOMAN - AishaProduction Awards:BEST DEVISED PRODUCTION - The Cast of ‘Madras Central’BEST SCRIPTED PRODUCTION - The Cast of ‘Metamorphosis’BEST OVERALL PRODUCTION - The Cast of ‘Love & Money’Special Awards:The ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - EmilyThe STELLA FLANNERY AWARD for EXCELLENCE - Abigail

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August 2014SFX students literally jumped andscreamed on hearing their results inAugust this year as they realised theirdreams with places to study at topuniversities including Imperial College,Queen Mary University and Kings College.Here are some of the highlights:

• Ateeb who is now at Surrey Universitystudying Mechanical Engineering(Mathematics A*, Biology A, Physics A,Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) A)

• Iryna who has also won her place atSurrey to study Psychology (Russian A*,Psychology A, Economics A, Mathematics A,EPQ A*)

• After joining us in year 13, Hannah isnow studying Economics atLoughborough University. She was overthe moon when we spoke to her; “SFXmade me feel so welcome and gave memuch more support than I’d ever hadbefore – I wish I’d come here in year 12!”(Religious Studies A*, Geography A, EPQ A)

• Jessica took her first choice place atGreenwich University to studyAccounting & Finance (BTEC Level 3Extended Diploma in Business D*D*D*)

• Roopa is now studying Psychology atKings College (BTEC Level 3 ExtendedDiploma in Health & Social Care D*D*D*)

SFX Principal Stella Flannery commented;“Our excellent outcomes are a credit to staffand students who have weathered therecent changes to A level assessment. Onein three grades achieved were grades A* toB and this will open the door to many topuniversity places for our students. In ouradvanced BTECs two thirds of entrantsachieved distinctions.”

SUBJECT PASS RATES:• 100% pass rates in A levels including

Graphic Design, Classical Civilization,Computing, Drama, English Languageand Literature, English Literature,Further Maths, History, Media Studies,and Spanish.

• 100% pass rates in BTEC Level 3Extended Diploma courses in AppliedScience, Sport and Exercise Science, ITand Health & Social Care.

You can apply for a courseat SFX using our online format www.sfx.ac.uk/apply

August 2014

A selection of our 2014 stargraduates attended the WandsworthHigh Achievers Ceremony in August.Just days after they discovered theirgrades on results day, they took uptheir invitation and celebrated theirsuccess at the town hall, where theywere congratulated by the DeputyMayor of Wandsworth and othercouncil members. They are nowstudying at their chosen universities.Roopa (image below, far left) is atKings College London after achievingTriple Distinction* for BTEC Level 3Health & Social Care, Bethany (imagebelow, third from right) who got AABCin her A levels, is now at Queen MaryUniversity studying MechanicalEngineering, whilst Ateeb (imagebelow, middle of back row) is alsotaking Mechanical Engineering atSurrey University after gaining gradesA*AA in Maths, Biology and Physics.All of the students felt very privilegedto have been invited and enjoyed theannual event which provided softdrinks, sandwiches and some yummychocolate brownies that didn't lastvery long!

August 2014

One of our star students Shannon, who achieved 3 As in A level ReligiousStudies, Government & Politics and Sociology, featured on the drive-timeslot of BBC Radio London in a discussion panel with the Education Editor ofthe Sunday Times and a Vice Principal of Pearsons College. This was live onair on the afternoon of results day. They chatted about the supportShannon received at SFX, her university choices and what she would eat asa student! She also told the presenter that she wouldn’t have achieved hergrades if it wasn’t for the support she’d received at SFX.

Shannon told SFX Life; “Thanks so much for the opportunity, it’s been so muchfun to go to the BBC studios!”

SFX STUDENTS OVERJOYEDON RESULTS DAY

STAR STUDENT INTERVIEWEDON BBC RADIO

Irinya (former Walworth Academy student) and Katie (former Blackheath Bluecoats School student) celebrate their results

Shannon (formerly Ursuline Convent High School student - on the right) in the BBC Radio London studios being interviewed live on air

WANDSWORTH HIGHACHIEVERS EVENT

SFX students at the ceremony in August

SFX students pose for a selfie outside the Wandsworth Town Hall

October 2014Former St Matthew Academy students,Aisha a 2nd year student taking A levelDrama, English Language andSociology and Neneyoh who is in her2nd year of BTEC Level 3 ExtendedDiploma in Health & Social Care, wereon hand at the year 11 informationevening to provide information tostudents and their parents about SFXand what they think of SFX.

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October 2014A recent £500k development has seen the launch of a newcanteen providing food and refreshments by the largestindependent caterer in the UK with all products sourcedlocally. From October this year students also had access toa fully functioning Starbucks offering coffees and foods atsubsidized prices.

ST MATTHEWACADEMY

Cle joined SFX in August aftergraduating as an SFX studentback in 2009.

Q What courses did you study at SFX?A Drama (A) Performance Studies (B) English

Literature (C).

Q What did you enjoy about studying here?

A The teacher-student support. I actuallyapplied to the Brit School and got my placebut then came here as I had a good feelingabout it and could study academic subjectsas well as Drama – plus we had good studenttrips!

Q What did you do after you graduatedfrom SFX?

A A lot! I went travelling, joined a 16 piece Jazzband then went to university to study Law,but quickly realised this wasn’t for me. I nextwent to Israel where I met a photographerand started a travel blog. On my return toLondon I heard about the job at SFX so Icontacted Ms Everett (Head of PerformingArts), got myself the interview and here I am!

Q What have you enjoyed during yourfirst few months at SFX?

A It’s been interesting switching from the role ofstudent to Teacher. I’ve quickly developed apassion for getting the most out of students.

Q What was your best memory of SFX as a student?

A I did an ‘Off-Broadway’ production in NewYork – the students studying this year may begoing too! We then took our production toEdinburgh Fringe.

Q Tell us about an interesting projectyou’re planning for your students?

A In groups of six they’re going to devise a threeminute performance piece in the style of abarber shop choir. They’ll be attending a fewworkshops with a barbershop choir singer tohelp them put their pieces together.

Q What are your plans in your new post at SFX?

A I’m aiming to bring out the best in thestudents – the super creative side to them.

Q What piece of advice can you offer astudent considering performing arts asa career?

A Get as much actual experience as possible –don’t just stick with school/college as this willmake you much more attractive as aperformer. It will also help you to find yourstrength as a performer.

Q What did you have for breakfast this morning?

A Corn fried porridge – two big bowls!

Cle’s top tip - If you feel that you NEED the bathroom before aperformance, DON’T GO! That’s a signof a little ole ‘friend’ we know called‘Stage Fright’. Use that anxiety andnervousness and channel it into giving apassionate performance. Of course,don’t go to the toilet on stage...thatwould just be awkward!

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Apply for the PerformanceStudies A level atwww.sfx.ac.uk/apply

5 MINUTES WITH...CLE HUNNIGAN - PERFORMING ARTS ASSISTANT

Cle with one of his students in the Music Recording Studio BRAND NEW CANTEEN & STARBUCKS AT SFX

October 2014SFX delivered a day of PSHE sessions tothe year 11 St Thomas more studentswith the help of Student President, Beryland Vice President, Rhia. The sessionsincluded a presentation about SFX andwhat we offer, an interview with thestudent presidents looking at what it islike to be an SFX student and a quiz. Theteam with the most answers received aprize of an SFX Oyster card Wallet, whilstthe best team name got an SFX sweet.

ST THOMAS MOREOctober 2014We took along two former PlatanosCollege students to help at their Careersfair recently. Riyad, a 1st year studenttaking Business, History, ICT andSociology A levels and Abubakar also a1st year student on A level, Business,History and ICT chatted to the year 11students about what they enjoy aboutstudying at SFX and why they shouldconsider it as a place to study.

PLATANOS COLLEGE

Riyad and Abubakar (former Platanos Collegestudents) providing information to the year 11s

SFX Student Presidents chatting to St Thomas more students

Aisha (former St Matthew Academystudent) at the SFX stand

10 Malwood Road, Balham, London SW12 8ENT: 020 8772 6072 F: 020 8772 6099E: admissions@sfx.ac.uk

www.sfx.ac.uk

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/sfx_college

Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sfxcollege

The UK is regarded as a world leaderin engineering including renewableenergy, space, aerospace, creativeindustries, automotive and civil. By2020 engineering enterprises areprojected to have 2.74 million jobopenings, including over 400,000technician roles. This course is a greatroute to university in many types ofengineering degrees.

Students will have the option of taking:

• Level 3 Extended Diploma (worth 3 A levels)

OR

• Level 3 Diploma (worth 2 A levels):combining the course with another A level

What can this course lead toA degree in many types of Engineeringat most UK universities. Foundationdegrees and HNDs are also available,and there is a vast selection ofapprenticeships on offer in the UK.

How to applyFill out the form online atwww.sfx.ac.uk/apply

About the courseYou will develop the knowledge,understanding and skills required forprogression into a range of roles withinthe industry, using relevant softwarethroughout the course, along with athorough grounding in engineering theoryprincipals, putting these into practicethrough classroom experiments, industryvisits and university partnerships so theycan experience industry-standardequipment and facilities.

NEW COURSE FOR 2015

BTEC LEVEL 3 EXTENDED DIPLOMA INENGINEERING (EQUIVALENT TO 3 A LEVELS)GREAT ROUTE TO UNIVERSITY