The Damara School
| Type | Independent School / Other independent special school |
| Age Range | 5-16 |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Address | The Maltings Raymond Street Thetford Norfolk IP24 2EA |
| Reference Number | 148395 |
The Damara School has demonstrated good overall effectiveness in providing an educational environment for pupils with social, emotional, and mental health needs. The school is particularly strong in fostering a supportive atmosphere, which has led to excellent behavior and outstanding personal development among pupils. The focus on life-changing support and tailored learning strategies has enabled many pupils to make significant progress academically and return to a more regular school routine. However, while the school shows strong growth in many areas, ongoing development in certain aspects of the English curriculum, particularly spelling and phonics, remains a key focus for improvement.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 27 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 74.07%
Girls: 25.93% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 0% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 100% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 3 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 4 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 5 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 6 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 7 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 8 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 9 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 10 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 11 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Last Report Date | 23 Sep 2025 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 23 Sep 2025 | Standard inspection: |
| 14 Feb 2024 | Additional inspection |
| 22 Nov 2022 | Standard inspection: |
| 10 Mar 2021 | Pre-registration inspection |
| Proposed to open |
Strengths
- Outstanding behavior and attitudes of pupils
- Effective support strategies for pupils' emotional and behavioral regulation
- High academic expectations leading to rapid progress for pupils
- Skilled teachers who engage pupils' interests
- Strong personal development and nurturing of pupils' interests
- Positive and supportive staff culture
- Effective safeguarding arrangements
Areas for Improvement
- IMprovement needed in spelling knowledge and skills among pupils
- Phonics program is at an early stage of implementation
| Name | Distance |
|
Norwich Road Academy
Norwich Road, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2HT |
0.28 miles |
|
Queensway Junior Academy
Hillary Road, Thetford, IP24 3DP |
0.47 miles |
|
Queensway Infant Academy
Queensway, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 3DR |
0.51 miles |
|
Redcastle Family School
St Martin's Way, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 3PU |
0.62 miles |
|
Drake Primary School
Fairfields, Croxton Road, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 1JW |
0.7 miles |
|
The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy
Canterbury Way, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 1EB |
0.78 miles |
|
Admirals Academy
Admirals Way, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2JT |
0.82 miles |
|
Raleigh Infant Academy
Admirals Way, Thetford, IP24 2JT |
0.82 miles |
|
Barnham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Mill Lane, Barnham, Nr Thetford, Suffolk, IP24 2NG |
2.42 miles |
|
Elveden Church of England Primary Academy
London Road, Elveden, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 3TN |
4.1 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Thetford Grammar School
|
0.28 miles |
|
Compass Community School Eld Park
Canterbury Way, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 1EF |
0.81 miles |
|
The Thetford Academy
Croxton Road, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 1LH |
1.1 miles |