St. Francis Xavier's College (Liverpool)
Encyclopedia
St. Francis Xavier's College is a Roman Catholic secondary school
and sixth form college
located in Woolton
, Liverpool
, England. Year 7 to Year 11 are male only, whereas the Sixth Form (years 12 and 13) are coeducational.
The College is under the trusteeship
of the Brothers of Christian Instruction
. Their mission is that of their founder, Jean Marie de la Mennais, ‘To make Jesus better known and loved’.
The school is a specialist school
for Mathematics
and Computing
, and was the first school in Liverpool
to gain specialist school status in that category.
, Lancashire
by the Society of Jesus
who were a Roman Catholic religious order
.
on Salisbury Street. Father Collyns took over the college in 1853.
With more than 50 pupils the rector
Father Collyns decided that a new premises was needed. By 1856 the college had its own building built alongside the Presbytery
and in 1877 a new college was built on 6 Salisbury Street.
who was one of the foremost Catholic
architects of the day. He used the designs of Father Vaughan as the bases of his designs. The new college was completed in the summer of 1877 and cost £30,000.
to its present twenty-six acre site at High Lee, Woolton
. For many years a Lower School site for Years 7, 8 and 9 was located on Queens Drive in Childwall, in recent years the Lower School was re-sited with the Upper School at High Lee. In 1990 SFX opted out of local authority control, becoming a grant-maintained school
. The college was granted Technology College status from April 1996. In September 1999 it became a Foundation School
. In 1992 the college became co-educational in the sixth form and in September 2000 the De La Mennais 6th Form Centre was opened.
. They have toured Europe and the United States, and gained a place in the Guinness Book of Records
for singing at every cathedral
in England and Wales.
The school sang on the reworked version of The Farm's
1990 hit "Alltogethernow", remix
ed by BBC Radio 1
's DJ Spoony
. The single, which reached number 10 in the UK Singles Chart
, was the official song for the England football team at the UEFA Euro 2004 competition. It was performed by the choir on Top of the Pops
in 2004.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
and sixth form college
Sixth form college
A sixth form college is an educational institution in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Belize, Hong Kong or Malta where students aged 16 to 18 typically study for advanced school-level qualifications, such as A-levels, or school-level qualifications such as GCSEs. In Singapore and India, this is...
located in Woolton
Woolton
Woolton is a suburb of Liverpool, Merseyside, England and a Liverpool City Council Ward. It is located at the south of the city, bordered by Gateacre, Hunts Cross, Allerton and Halewood. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 14,836.-History:...
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England. Year 7 to Year 11 are male only, whereas the Sixth Form (years 12 and 13) are coeducational.
The College is under the trusteeship
Trusteeship
Trusteeship may refer to*Trust law *Trusteeship *United Nations Trusteeship...
of the Brothers of Christian Instruction
Brothers of Christian Instruction
The Brothers of Christian Instruction also known as the De la Mennais Brothers is a Christian educational organization founded in 1819 by Gabriel Deshayes and Jean-Marie de la Mennais for the instruction of youth. Their aim remains that of their Founder :"to educate the young and to make Jesus...
. Their mission is that of their founder, Jean Marie de la Mennais, ‘To make Jesus better known and loved’.
The school is a specialist school
Specialist school
The specialist schools programme was a UK government initiative which encouraged secondary schools in England to specialise in certain areas of the curriculum to boost achievement. The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust was responsible for the delivery of the programme...
for Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and Computing
Computing
Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
, and was the first school in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
to gain specialist school status in that category.
Origins and History
The college was founded in 1842 in association with Stonyhurst CollegeStonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College is a Roman Catholic independent school, adhering to the Jesuit tradition. It is located on the Stonyhurst Estate near the village of Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire, England, and occupies a Grade I listed building...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
by the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
who were a Roman Catholic religious order
Roman Catholic religious order
Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular ; monastics ; mendicants Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular (canons and canonesses regular...
.
1843–1845: St. Anne Street
A year later, now with a dozen pupils. Father Francis Lythgoe moved the college to St. Anne Street where it stayed until 1845.1846–1877: Salisbury Street
In 1844 Father Johnson took over from Father Francis Lythgoe and moved his 24 pupils to the newley-opened PresbyteryPresbytery (architecture)
The presbytery is the name for an area in a church building which is reserved for the clergy.In the oldest church it is separated by short walls, by small columns and pilasters in the Renaissance ones; it can also be raised, being reachable by a few steps, usually with railings....
on Salisbury Street. Father Collyns took over the college in 1853.
With more than 50 pupils the rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
Father Collyns decided that a new premises was needed. By 1856 the college had its own building built alongside the Presbytery
Presbytery (architecture)
The presbytery is the name for an area in a church building which is reserved for the clergy.In the oldest church it is separated by short walls, by small columns and pilasters in the Renaissance ones; it can also be raised, being reachable by a few steps, usually with railings....
and in 1877 a new college was built on 6 Salisbury Street.
Second College Building
SFX's newest Salisbury Street building was designed by Henry CluttonHenry Clutton
Henry Clutton was an English architect and designer and a student of Edward Blore and also worked with William Burges.-Work:* Battle Abbey, Sussex* Cliveden, Buckinghamshire* Hoar Cross Hall, Staffordshire...
who was one of the foremost Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
architects of the day. He used the designs of Father Vaughan as the bases of his designs. The new college was completed in the summer of 1877 and cost £30,000.
Move to Woolton
In 1961 the college was transferred as a grammar schoolGrammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
to its present twenty-six acre site at High Lee, Woolton
Woolton
Woolton is a suburb of Liverpool, Merseyside, England and a Liverpool City Council Ward. It is located at the south of the city, bordered by Gateacre, Hunts Cross, Allerton and Halewood. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 14,836.-History:...
. For many years a Lower School site for Years 7, 8 and 9 was located on Queens Drive in Childwall, in recent years the Lower School was re-sited with the Upper School at High Lee. In 1990 SFX opted out of local authority control, becoming a grant-maintained school
Grant-maintained school
Grant-maintained schools were state schools in England and Wales between 1988 and 1998 that had opted out of local government control, being funded directly by a grant from central government...
. The college was granted Technology College status from April 1996. In September 1999 it became a Foundation School
Foundation school
In England and Wales, a foundation school is a state-funded school in which the governing body has greater freedom in the running of the school than in community schools....
. In 1992 the college became co-educational in the sixth form and in September 2000 the De La Mennais 6th Form Centre was opened.
School choir
The choir was formed in 1994 and has performed in front of Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. They have toured Europe and the United States, and gained a place in the Guinness Book of Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
for singing at every cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
in England and Wales.
The school sang on the reworked version of The Farm's
The Farm (band)
The Farm were a British band from Liverpool, popular through the early 1990s. Their album Spartacus reached the top position on the UK Albums Chart when it was released in March, 1991.-History:They formed in early 1983....
1990 hit "Alltogethernow", remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed by BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's DJ Spoony
DJ Spoony
DJ Spoony is the stage name of Johnathan Joseph who is a British DJ, and former BBC Radio 1 presenter.-Radio and Dj career:...
. The single, which reached number 10 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, was the official song for the England football team at the UEFA Euro 2004 competition. It was performed by the choir on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
in 2004.
Head Teachers
| Headteacher | Start year | End year |
|---|---|---|
| Mr L.D.N Ripon | 2005 | Present |
| Brother Francis Patterson | 1979 | 2005 |
| Brother Robert Power | 1974 | 1979 |
| Father Doyle | 1962 | 1974 |
| Father Edward James Warner | 1953 | 1961 |
| Father Neylan | 1939 | 1953 |
| Father Brinkworth | 1937 | 1938 |
| Father Woodlock | 1919 | 1937 |
| Father J. Sponson | 1902 | 1919 |
| Father Thomas Poter | 1870 | 1902 |
| Father Collyns | 1853 | 1870 |
| Father West | 1851 | 1853 |
| Father Johnson | 1844 | 1853 |
| Father Francis Lythgoe | 1842 | 1844 |
Notable alumni
- Sir Peter Baxendell CBE, former ShellRoyal Dutch ShellRoyal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
executive - James Clement Baxter, Liberal politician and former Chairman of EvertonEverton F.C.Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
- Charles BrabinCharles BrabinCharles J. Brabin was an American film director and screenwriter. He was active during the silent era, then pursued a short-lived career in talkies....
, American film director - Tom CannonTom CannonTom Cannon is Professor of Strategic Development at the University of Liverpool Management School. He is considered to be an expert on Sports finance, economics and business notably professional sports like soccer, F1, cricket, rugby , tennis, horse-racing, American football and is often featured...
, Professor of Strategic Development at the University of LiverpoolUniversity of LiverpoolThe University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic... - Sir Bernard Caulfield, former High Court judgeHigh Court judgeA High Court judge is a judge of the High Court of Justice, and represents the third highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales. High Court judges are referred to as puisne judges...
on the Queen's Bench - Elvis CostelloElvis CostelloElvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
- prolific singer-songwriterSinger-songwriterSinger-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the... - Gabriel George CouryGabriel CouryGabriel George Coury VC , was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
- VCVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
winner. - Chris Crookall - actor
- Lucien Davis, artist
- Dixie DeanDixie DeanWilliam Ralph Dean , better known as Dixie Dean, was an English football player. Dean originally started his career with Birkenhead based Tranmere Rovers before moving on to Everton, the club he had supported as a child, where he became one of the most prolific goal-scorers in English football...
- professional footballerFootball (soccer)Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball... - Prof Walter Bryan Emery CBE, Edwards Professor of Egyptian Archaeology and PhilologyEdwards Professor of Egyptian Archaeology and PhilologyThe Edwards Professor of Egyptian Archaeology and Philology is a university professorial chair held at University College London.-History:The Chair was founded on the death of Amelia Edwards of the Egyptian Exploration Fund in 1892, who bequeathing her collection of Egyptian antiquities to...
at University College LondonUniversity College LondonUniversity College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
from 1951–70 - Most Rev Archbishop Paul GallagherPaul Gallagher (archbishop)The Most Reverend Paul Richard Gallagher, STL, JCD, is the Papal Nuncio to Guatemala.He was born in Liverpool and educated at St. Francis Xavier’s College in Woolton. Ordained by Archbishop Derek Worlock on 31 July 1977 for the Archdiocese of Liverpool, he served in Fazakerley, before taking...
- John GregsonJohn GregsonJohn Gregson was an English actor.He was born Harold Thomas Gregson, of Irish descent, and grew up in Wavertree, Liverpool, where he was educated at Greenbank Road primary school, later St Francis Xavier School...
, actor - Rt Rev Augustine HarrisAugustine HarrisBishop Augustine Harris was Roman Catholic Bishop of Middlesbrough and former Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool....
, RC Bishop of MiddlesbroughBishop of MiddlesbroughThe Bishop of Middlesbrough is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough in the Province of Liverpool, England.The diocese covers an area of of the counties of the East Riding of Yorkshire and North Yorkshire together with the City of York...
from 1978–92, Prison Chaplain to HM Prison LiverpoolLiverpool (HM Prison)HM Prison Liverpool is a categoryB/C local men's prison, located in the Walton area of Liverpool in England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.-History:...
from 1952–65 - George HartlandGeorge Albert HartlandGeorge Albert Hartland was a British Conservative Party politician. He was a Member of Parliament for Norwich from 1931 to 1935. He was educated at St. Francis Xavier's College, Liverpool. He served with the Liverpool Scottish during the First World War.- External links :...
, Conservative MP for NorwichNorwich (UK Parliament constituency)Norwich was a borough constituency which was represented in the House of Commons of England from 1298 to 1707, in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 until it was abolished for the 1950 general election...
from 1931-5 - Michael Houlihan, Director General of National Museum WalesNational Museum WalesAmgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, formerly the National Museums and Galleries of Wales, comprises eight museums in Wales:* National Museum Cardiff* St Fagans: National History Museum, Cardiff* Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon...
since 2003, and Chairman of the MDA since 2003 - Paul Aloysius KennaPaul Aloysius KennaBrigadier General Paul Aloysius Kenna VC DSO was an English born British Army officer of Irish descent and recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that could be awarded to British and British Empire forces.-Background:He was...
, recipient of the VCVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
in the Sudan CampaignMahdist WarThe Mahdist War was a colonial war of the late 19th century. It was fought between the Mahdist Sudanese and the Egyptian and later British forces. It has also been called the Anglo-Sudan War or the Sudanese Mahdist Revolt. The British have called their part in the conflict the Sudan Campaign... - Sammy Lee (footballer)Sammy Lee (footballer)Samuel "Sammy" Lee is an English football coach and former player. He played most of his career for hometown club Liverpool during the 1970s and 1980s as a midfielder, and also represented England fourteen times....
- ex professional footballerFootball (soccer)Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and Assistant Manager of Liverpool Football Club - Sir George LynskeyGeorge LynskeySir George Justin Lynskey was an English judge, particularly remembered for his role in investigating the political scandal that led to the eponymous Lynskey tribunal.-Early life:...
, High Court judge on the (former) King's BenchCourt of King's Bench (England)The Court of King's Bench , formally known as The Court of the King Before the King Himself, was an English court of common law in the English legal system... - Rt Rev Vincent MaloneVincent MaloneVincent Malone is an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the Auxiliary Bishop emeritus of the Archdiocese of Liverpool....
- Jimmy McGovernJimmy McGovernJimmy McGovern is a BAFTA award-winning English television scriptwriter from Liverpool.-Early career:McGovern started his career working on Channel 4's soap opera Brookside in 1982, tackling many social issues such as unemployment.-Successes:...
- BAFTA award-winning English television scriptwriter - Thomas Moran CBE, food scientist, Director of Research at the Ministry of FoodMinister of FoodThe Minister of Food Control and the Minister of Food were British government ministerial posts separated from that of the Minister of Agriculture. A major task of the latter office was to oversee rationing in the United Kingdom arising out of World War II...
from 1940-6 - Mike NewellMike Newell (footballer)Michael Colin "Mike" Newell is an English football manager and former professional footballer. As a player he notably was a member of the Blackburn Rovers team which won the Premier League in 1995, as well also playing for Crewe Alexandra, Wigan Athletic, Luton Town, Leicester City, Everton,...
- professional footballerFootball (soccer)Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball... - Laurence O'Keeffe CMG CVO, Ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1988–91, and to Senegal from 1982-5
- Anthony Parry, County Fire Officer of Greater Manchester from 1985–90
- Edward J. PhelanEdward J. PhelanEdward Joseph Phelan , frequently E. J. Phelan, was the first appointed international civil servant and fourth Director-General of the International Labour Office, serving from 1941 to 1948, during most of which time the ILO was temporarily relocated to Montréal from Geneva...
- Director-General of the International Labour OrganizationInternational Labour OrganizationThe International Labour Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with labour issues pertaining to international labour standards. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. Its secretariat — the people who are employed by it throughout the world — is known as the... - Paul Raymond, publisher of pornographic magazines such as Men OnlyMen OnlyMen Only is a British soft-core pornographic magazine published by Paul Raymond since 1971. However, the title goes back to 1935 when it was founded by C. Arthur Pearson Ltd as a pocket magazine . It set out its editorial stall in the first issue:'We don't want women readers. We won't have women...
, and who virtually started the British pornographic industry and its strip clubStrip clubA strip club is an adult entertainment venue in which striptease or other erotic or exotic dance is regularly performed. Strip clubs typically adopt a nightclub or bar style, but can also adopt a theatre or cabaret-style....
s - Peter SerafinowiczPeter SerafinowiczPeter Szymon Serafinowicz is an English actor, comedian, writer, composer, voice artist and occasional director.-Early life:Serafinowicz was born in Liverpool, England. He attended Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Primary School and St Francis Xavier Secondary School...
- professional comic actor, writer, voice artistVoice actingVoice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides.Performers are called...
and composer - Jimmy TarbuckJimmy TarbuckJimmy Tarbuck OBE or Tarby is an English comedian. Growing up he was a schoolmate of John Lennon.His first television show was It's Tarbuck 65! on ITV in 1964. He has also hosted numerous quiz shows, including Winner Takes All, Full Swing, and Tarby's Frame Game...
- ComedianComedianA comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and OBE winner - Neil Ward, Chief Operating Officer of HM Courts ServiceHer Majesty's Courts ServiceHer Majesty's Courts Service is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice and is responsible for the administration of the civil, family and criminal courts in England and Wales....
from 2006-7 - Tony WarnerTony WarnerAnthony Randolph "Tony" Warner is a Trinidad and Tobago international football goalkeeper who currently plays for the Wellington Phoenix.-Footballing career:...
- professional footballerFootball (soccer)Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball... - Akinwale Arobieke
- James Webb CB, Commissioner of the Inland RevenueInland RevenueThe Inland Revenue was, until April 2005, a department of the British Government responsible for the collection of direct taxation, including income tax, national insurance contributions, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, corporation tax, petroleum revenue tax and stamp duty...
from 1968–78
See also
- St Francis Xavier
- Brothers of Christian InstructionBrothers of Christian InstructionThe Brothers of Christian Instruction also known as the De la Mennais Brothers is a Christian educational organization founded in 1819 by Gabriel Deshayes and Jean-Marie de la Mennais for the instruction of youth. Their aim remains that of their Founder :"to educate the young and to make Jesus...
- Secondary schoolSecondary schoolSecondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
- Foundation schoolFoundation schoolIn England and Wales, a foundation school is a state-funded school in which the governing body has greater freedom in the running of the school than in community schools....