National Star College

The National Star College is an independent specialist further education college for people with physical disabilities, acquired brain injuries and associated learning difficulties. It is based at Ullenwood Manor in the village of Ullenwood, near the spa town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.It is constituted as a company and registered charity under English law, using the official name National Star Centre for Disabled Youth.In June 2012, the National Star College received an 'Outstanding' rating from Ofsted.HistoryOn 10 May 1967 the Star Centre, as it was then known, opened its doors for the first time with 10 students and 26 members of staff.The Star Centre was originally established as a charity to offer support and education to children whose lives had been affected by thalidomide - a drug that was used to prevent morning sickness but caused serious side effects.During the 60s opportunities for further education and vocational training didn’t exist for disabled teenagers leaving school so it was decided that the College would be solely for post 16s, which has continued through to today. The mission of the Star Centre was ‘To heal, to educate and to help to overcome difficulties and frustrations which beset physically disabled children and young people.’In 1970 the Star Centre became the National Star Centre for Disabled Youth to reflect the fact that students came from all over the UK and then in 2002 it was renamed the National Star College, which it is known as today.