Preparing children for life.

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Preparing children for life through holistic education.

About Us

The Lotus Academy Trust Ltd has been founded to provide children and young people with holistic, safe, rewarding, personalised education and support to improve their life chances and prepare them for life and the world of work. Using mindful, therapeutic and holistic approaches to learning, our pupils are taught to develop new and existing skills, increase their knowledge and strengthen their resilience and understanding. Our strong pastoral support and dedicated partnerships help each pupil to cope with the pressures of education and life and reach their full academic, social, and emotional potential.

The Trust Board is made up of Members and Trustees who meet every 6 weeks to grow and develop the strategic direction of the Trust.

Ofsted Report 2022

The rationale for setting up the Trust

The directors who have more than 150 years experience and expertise of working within educational institutions between them, felt passionately that there is a growing need to expand the educational provision in Norfolk and beyond. In addition, their commitment and dedication to improving educational outcomes for children and young people, especially the vulnerable, have resulted in the formation of The Lotus Academy Trust Ltd in May 2019. Since then, the team have worked tirelessly to set up its first school, The Damara School, based in Thetford, Norfolk which was officially registered with the DfE in April 2021. The school opened its doors to new pupils since June 2021.

Mrs Sandra Govender

CEO and Headteacher

Mrs Govender has over 30 years of working in education and training. She started her career in South Africa teaching classes of 40+ children. In 2002, Mrs Govender emigrated to England, finding herself in Watton, where she taught Food Technology at Wayland High School. She was promoted to Pastoral Lead (year 9) and Faculty Head over the next few years. She moved to Great Yarmouth in 2008 and took up the post of Assistant Headteacher at Lynn Grove High School, which was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2010. In 2012, Mrs Govender, as Deputy Head (Pastoral), was instrumental in setting up and running Beccles Free School. Her area of leadership was judged outstanding by Ofsted in 2014. She went on to lead the school as Head of School from January to April 2015.

During her years in mainstream education, Mrs Govender remained passionate about promoting student leadership, coaching and mentoring and community cohesion. She set up Student Leadership Programmes including The Junior Chef Programme and Peer mentoring, Parent and Family Workshops such as ‘Saturday is Family Cook Day’, Parent and children events and community engagement such as community gardening and inter-generational activities with local residential and care homes. Some of the most valuable partnerships were with local education, social and health services and local businesses and organisations such as the Rotary Club, RAF and Norwich City Football Club.

In 2015, Mrs Govender decided to leave mainstream leadership and move into special education. She initially headed the Primary and Engagement departments at The Short Stay School for Norfolk, working to ensure that students who were permanently excluded received quality provision and were prepared for life, later taking up the position of leadership mentoring and Accounting Officer for the organisation. In 2017, Mrs Govender took up the Headship of the Pinetree School in Thetford. Within 7 months of her headship, she led the school out of an Inadequate Ofsted rating.

In 2019, Mrs Govender together with a group of passionate and dedicated individuals set up The Lotus Academy Trust Ltd whose core aim is to open educational establishments that prepare children and young people for life.

Call us:

01842 773673

E-mail:

office@lotustrust.org.uk

Where to find us:

The Maltings. Raymond Street. Thetford. IP24 2EA