Empowering looked after children through education
The First Star model is a long-term university preparatory programme for looked after children. The programme is based on a partnership between a university, the young person, and First Star. First Star recruits ‘scholars’ at the beginning of their GCSE year (age 14/15) to join the four-year programme of academic support and life skills at a local university or through our First Star 2U programme. Scholars stay with the programme up to the age of 18; becoming Guardian Scholars as they graduate from First Star. Scholars attend monthly sessions and a summer residential programme at a university campus.
Welcome!
Learn more about First Star - meet our Guardian Scholars and find about the programmes
We are First Star
First Star is a national children’s charity dedicated to improving outcomes for young people growing up in care. It was founded on an ambitious and aspirational approach to helping some of our most disadvantaged young people access higher education. The First Star programme encourages and empowers young people from care backgrounds to believe they belong in higher education.
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Passed GCSEs at grade 5
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