On 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.
Services today and rationale
The college is a further education college focussing on literacy, numeracy, communication and ICT for disabled people. Courses are provided both as residential and as day courses. Advances in medical care over the last 45 years have meant an increase in the survival of premature babies, and more children surviving major illness and accidents, which often causes lifelong severe disabilities. There has also been improved integration of students with less severe disabilities into mainstream educational provision, meaning National Star College has moved towards even more specialist provision. Most of the students at National Star College today require very high levels of personal support, 80% are wheelchair users, over 50% require speech and language therapy, 20% use a communication aid, and 13% have a life-limiting condition. The changing and more complex needs of the students meant that the College needed to change and grow. A development plan to expand and improve all of the College’s facilities through a combination of new buildings, conversion, and refurbishment was put into place and in 2007 the College launched the £15.4million ‘Star Appeal’ round of fundraising. The appeal was successful and building work commenced in 2010, with the first phase completed in June 2011.
Estate and grounds
Ullenwood Manor was built around 1850 as a private residence, and subsequently used as preparatory school for boys. It is located in a secluded woodland location in the hills above Leckhampton, Cheltenham. Modern college grounds include a private 18-hole golf course used by Ullenwood Manor Golfing Society. The manor building also provides conference facilities available for use by the general public.
New Facility
The new £6m development in Pitville features student accommodation and a learning and activities centre to replace the outdated accommodation in an ideal location. Located close enough to the Cheltenham's centre but on the edge of the prestigious Pitville Park, the students will get a healthy mix of town and green space. Local building contractor Speller Metcalfe completed the works on the project, whilst making every effort to preserve the existing ecology of the landscape and adding to it with extra planting and landscaping. Another local company, Sky Garden, added four green roofs to the buildings to increase the biodiversity of the site. The sedum roof will not only help with wildlife but also insulate the buildings and reduce heating expenses for the residents. The Green roofs were installed on a 15 degree slope and required specialist retention batons to stop the system from sliding off the roof.
Tributary of the Thames
The River Churn, commonly held to be one of, if not the primary sources of the River Thames, is joined within Coberley by a still longer tributary which has its source in the grounds of the National Star College.
