Job Introduction
Attendance Officer Role
Reports To: Assistant Headteacher (Attendance)
Salary/Grade: Support Staff Scale, D1 Actual salary £23,852 based on FTE £27,779
Weeks to be agreed (Term Time Only + 1 Week)
Hours: Full-Time, Permanent. Monday–Thursday 8:00am to 4:00pm, Friday 8:00am to 3:30pm
Are you a resilient, empathetic, and driven individual looking for a vital role within education supporting your local school? Bridgemary School is looking to appoint a dedicated Attendance Officer to join our amazing community and pastoral support team.
At our school, we believe that excellent attendance is the fundamental bedrock of student achievement and well-being. In this critical role, you will monitor, analyse, and challenge student absence, working proactively with students, parents, and external agencies to identify barriers to school attendance and establish effective interventions. Crucially, this role requires a hands-on approach, including conducting regular home visits to engage directly with hard-to-reach families and support students back into the classroom.
Key Responsibilities
- Monitoring and Data Analysis: Maintain accurate records of student attendance and punctuality using the school’s management information system (MIS). Monitor daily data to identify trends, patterns, and students at risk of persistent or severe absence, producing weekly and termly reports for the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Heads of Year.
- Intervention and Home Visits: Contact parents/carers on the first day of unexplained absence. Conduct planned and unannounced home visits to establish reasons for absence, deliver school work, offer face-to-face support, or complete safe and well checks. Meet with families in school to design bespoke attendance action plans.
- Multi-Agency and Legal Frameworks: Liaise closely with Heads of Year, SENDCo, and the Safeguarding team. Work collaboratively with the Local Authority Attendance Service, Social Care, and Health professionals. Prepare documentation and evidence bundles for legal interventions, including fixed penalty notices and court prosecutions.
- Administration and Promotion: Manage late-gate procedures and implement appropriate sanctions or interventions. Coordinate school-wide attendance rewards, assemblies, and initiatives to celebrate success. Keep up to date with statutory Department for Education (DfE) guidance.
What We Are Looking For (Person Specification)
Essential Criteria:
- Qualifications: A good standard of education (GCSE English and Maths at Grade C/4 or equivalent).
- Experience: Experience working with children, young people, or families in a supportive or challenging capacity.
- Skills & Knowledge: Exceptional communication skills with the ability to remain calm, firm, and empathetic under pressure. Strong IT skills (Word, Excel) and the ability to manage a varied, independent workload.
- Personal Qualities: A high level of resilience, a "thick skin," and a non-judgmental, problem-solving approach to families in crisis. You must hold a full, clean UK driving license and have access to a vehicle for daily home visits.
Desirable Criteria:
- Professional qualification in youth work, social work, or education.
- Experience working as an Attendance Officer within a secondary school setting and interpreting complex data.
- Knowledge of school attendance legislation, safeguarding procedures, and experience using school systems like SIMS or Arbor.
- A deep commitment to improving the life chances of young people.
What We Can Offer You
Investing in our employees' well-being and career development is a priority for us. As an Attendance Officer at Bridgemary School, we can offer you:
- Excellent ongoing CPD, training programmes, and vast career development opportunities across the trust.
- Coaching and mentoring from the academy’s experienced leadership team.
- A comprehensive induction programme.
- A friendly and supportive environment where everyone is committed to a work-life balance.
- Employee benefits including a Cycle to Work scheme, free eye tests, and an Employee Assistance Programme providing free, confidential advice on mental, physical, and financial health.
About TKAT
Bridgemary School is proud to be part of The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT), one of the largest Multi-Academy Trusts in the South & East of England. Within the #oneTKATfamily, our shared purpose is to work together to ensure that every child, whatever their background, receives a high-quality education. We place a high value on collaboration—achieving more together—and sharing expertise across our network.
Safeguarding & Inclusion
Safeguarding Commitment: Bridgemary School and TKAT are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Offers of employment will be subject to the full safer recruitment process, including satisfactory references and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Equality, Inclusion, Diversity and Belonging: We embrace and celebrate differences, actively encouraging applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Should you be invited to interview, please let us know if you require any adjustments to enable you to participate as your authentic self. We also support flexible working practices to promote a positive work-life balance.
How to Apply
To discover what makes Bridgemary School so incredible, please arrange a visit by contacting the Recruitment team on 01329 319966 or email recruitment@bridgemary-tkat.org.
To download an application pack, click the link or visit our website at www.bridgemary-tkat.org and return your completed application form to recruitment@bridgemary-tkat.org.
Closing Date for Applications: Friday 12th June 2026
(We reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a significant number of applications, so early submission is encouraged).
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