Devon’s brightest stars on path to university

The programme, called Sutton Trust Academic Routes (STAR) is supported by the Sutton Trust, a charity which promotes social mobility through education.

Sixty students from non-privileged backgrounds and with top predicted GCSEs have been chosen to take part in the programme. They come from St James School and St Lukes Science and Sports College in Exeter, Cullompton Community College, and The Park Community School in Barnstaple. The students will receive direct support through their further education studies at college, with campus visits, student mentors and targeted study sessions helping them consider undergraduate study at the University of Exeter and other selective universities. 

From September a further four schools get involved in the scheme West Exe Technology College and Isca College of Media Arts in Exeter, Dartmouth Community College and Tiverton High School. 

A launch event at the University introduced some of the students and their parents to campus life, with talks from current University students and some work on post-16 choices and progression routes. Emma Stephenson, University of Exeter’s Outreach Manager said, ‘We are delighted that the STAR programme will be providing such direct support to these able and enthusiastic students. We hope that we can help them make good decisions about their futures and to provide a pathway onto our courses if that’s what the direction they decide they want to go. The students have each been identified by their schools as having the potential to benefit from the sort of higher education Exeter has to offer and we look forward to supporting them in making the most of their abilities.’

Leeds University is running a parallel pilot project for schools in their local area.

James Turner, Director of Projects and Policy at the Sutton Trust, said: ‘We are delighted to be working with the University of Exeter on this important initiative. STAR is the most comprehensive access programme we have funded, supporting students from their GCSE year all the way to university at age 18. The Sutton Trust particularly wants Devon’s brightest and best youngsters to consider top universities like Exeter, which offer great career prospects and are important engines of social mobility.’