Senior Attendance Officer

Do you have experience overseeing attendance at a school level? We are looking for an Attendance Officer to join our dedicated academy team at Harris Garrard Academy. This role is likely to suit an individual looking to develop in a school environment with attendance related experience.

About Us

Harris Garrard Academy is an all-through 3–18 academy with approximately 1350 pupils on roll and joined the Harris Federation as a sponsored academy in September 2017. The academy is based in Thamesmead in a purpose built building. We are now on a journey towards “Outstanding”, led by highly experienced executive principals with proven track records of school transformation. Our vision is clear: nothing is impossible and everything is possible, irrespective of personal characteristics or background. Every problem has a solution. We believe we are more robust, resilient and determined as a team than as a group of individuals. We support, challenge and hold each other to account at all levels within the academy to ensure that our students achieve their potential, are motivated, engaged and fully prepared for life beyond our academy.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Your responsibilities will include:

• Line managing the attendance officers in the team
• Ensuring attendance targets are met
• Assisting SLT in the management and development of attendance and punctuality policies
• Daily monitoring and follow-up of attendance and punctuality
• Participating on late desk and following up detentions to be issued for late students
• Contacting parents/carers of students absent at agreed time and recording reasons for absence
• Daily monitoring and early calls on the attendance of children in care or students on the vulnerable list as a priority
• Making home visits with the Academy welfare manager as required;
• Sending letters to parents regarding attendance matters
• Ensuring the smooth operation and accuracy of the computerised registration system
• Establishing the reason for absences including telephone calls, letters and home visits
• Preparing and distributing attendance and punctuality certificates
• Following up on poor attendance or punctuality
• Signing students in and out of the Academy outside normal start and finish times
• Liaising with the Educational Welfare Officer to ensure prompt, consistent and rigorous intervention on poor attendance
• Monitoring student attendance together with students' progress and performance
• Dealing efficiently and effectively with referrals on attendance concerns
• Alerting staff to problems experienced by students and making recommendations on resolutions
• Attending all appropriate meetings, including organising fortnightly meetings with Faculty Directors
• Meeting with LAC students weekly and passing on any relevant information regarding their welfare

Qualifications & Experience

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Qualifications to degree standard or equivalent
• Sound Knowledge of Microsoft software
• Knowledge of Management Information Systems for input and export of student attendance data, including training in relation to attendance and report generation
• Knowledge of attendance policies and procedures
• Knowledge of the range of agencies that work with students and their families
• Basic knowledge of first aid; e.g. emergency first aid course
• Knowledge of a range of attendance codes and when they can be used
• Knowledge of many of the social issues facing students from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Three years' experience of working in an inner-city school or educational establishment
• Experience of working with Academy welfare officer
• Experience of meeting with parents/carers formally and informally
• Experience of managing attendance systems
• Experience in a similar role
• Experience of working with young people, including those with challenging behaviour

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan, electric car scheme, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.