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Your Journey Starts Here

Join us on a journey of discovery and growth. Experience top-tier education and world-class opportunities tailored to your aspirations.
Get Started

Your Journey Starts Here

Join us on a journey of discovery and growth. Experience top-tier education and world-class opportunities tailored to your aspirations.
Get Started

Transforming Lives Through Specialist Holistic Education | Lotus Trust

Empowering children with special educational needs through personalized learning pathways, therapeutic support, and life skills development at our award-winning Thetford school. Building confidence, independence, and brighter futures for every child.

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Preparing children for life through holistic education.

Finding Opportunities in every difficulty

Latest News

Keep up to date with the school community

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Latest News & Updates

Discover student successes and upcoming events from our educational community.

More Updates
Students working with each other

'First of its kind' - New complex needs school opens in Thetford

Thetford's new Damara School, by Lotus Trust, offers unique academic and therapeutic...
Sep 09, 2021
Students in front of Damara School

Breckland Council leases Thetford building to local school

Breckland Council leases Thetford Maltings to Damara School, expanding SEN support for...
Oct 27, 2023

Previous & Upcoming Events

Explore our previous events and upcoming to see what's happening next, from exciting activities and important updates to special gatherings tailored just for you!

Go Karting 2023

May
16
Tue

Damara

Mundford Rd, Thetford IP24 1NB, United...

11:00 AM

GMT
Students with go karting certificates

Fresh Water Testing 2023

Oct
12
Thu

Damara

Bury Knowle House, North Pl, Headington,...

11:00 AM

GMT
Fresh Water Testing Event

BeWILDerwood 2024

May
03
Fri

Damara

Horning Rd, Hoveton, Norwich NR12 8JW,...

11:30 AM

GMT
students at bewilderwood

Beach Day 2024

May
08
Wed

Damara

Beach

10:30 PM

GMT
beach day with students

Prom 2024

May
10
Fri

Damara

The Maltings, Raymond St, Thetford IP24...

3:30 PM

GMT
Students, parents and staff at prom

The Nancy Oldfield Trust...

Jun
18
Tue

Damara

Irstead Rd, Neatishead, Norwich NR12 8BJ,...

11:00 AM

GMT
Nancy Oldfield Boating with students

Forest School 2024

Jun
21
Fri

Damara

Lackford Lakes Centre, Bury Saint Edmunds...

11:00 AM

GMT
forest school event
sandra

Message From The CEO

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...

Message From The CEO

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.

Should you wish to contact Mrs Govender, please email her on ceo@lotustrust.org.uk or call her on 01842 773673.

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Testimonials

I used to love the building and watching the school grow and become more popular over the 4 years of being a pupil and being exited for how many locations the school has moved well done Sandra Govender for teaching children with special needs and helping them learn.

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Anonymous

Alumni

Pupils love coming to Damara. They thrive here and want to attend school, often after lengthy periods of disruption to their previous education. Pupils feel safe. They build confidence and self-esteem because they trust the adults who work with them. Respectful and caring relationships are at the heart of pupils’ success. They get on well with each other and learn how to manage their own behaviour and anxieties exceptionally well. Pupils say that bullying does not happen. They know it would be stopped quickly if it did.

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Ofsted 22

Ofsted 22