About National Star Centre for Disabled Youth Limited
"To enable young people with physical disabilities to prepare for the best that adult life
can offer through innovative programmes of education , training and independence"
The major aim of the College is to identify the existing and potential abilities of each student to maximise their present and future quality of life. 75% of students are wheelchair users and the College caters for a range of disabilities including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, acquired brain injuries, dystrophies and associated learning difficulties.
College Funding
As an independent charity, the College's capital developments and purchase of equipment relies on funding from charitable appeals and events. The Learning and Skills Council funds the care and education of individual students.
College Courses
Each student at the College follows an individual learning programme with an emphasis on developing skills for life enhancing their educational development, independence and chances of employment.
Courses on offer include information technology and business studies, creative arts, performing arts, sports and recreation, skills for life and health and social care. Qualifications on offer include GCSE's, NVQ's and City and Guilds.
Students are supported throughout their time at the College by highly trained staff including personal tutors, physiotherapists, speech therapists, support assistants and a medical team.
Life at the College
The College is residential and as well as specially adapted accommodation at the main College campus, the College has offsite accommodation in both Cheltenham and Gloucester.
But it isn't all work with students having access to a wide range of College facilities including a swimming pool and basketball court and access to a range of social activities at the College and the local towns of Cheltenham and Gloucester.
Our history
The National Star College, founded by Andrew Wilson, was opened to just a handful of students in 1967 and is now one of the leading specialist further education Colleges in the UK.
Students were originally located in the Manor House but the last 35 years has seen the College facilities develop significantly. In the 70's, new accommodation areas were built, and by the early 80's student numbers had risen to 100.
The teaching block New Court was opened in 1985 with a speech therapy unit, resource centre and independence suite. The Queen opened a creative arts centre in the 90's and a major development in 1999 was the building of CABIR, an innovative centre for the rehabilitation of students with an acquired brain injury.
The 21st Century has seen the College progress with the building of a new information technology Centre and the purchase of offsite accommodation in Gloucester, offering increased independence. Student numbers have increased to 153 and the future is looking very bright for the College.
In 2007 the College launched the Star Appeal to raise £15.4million. The aim of the Star Appeal is to extend the campus, provide more and improved student accommodation, increase the range of education, training and learning programmes, provide more opportunities for work-related learning, and offer better part-time learning opportunities to disabled adults.