Attendance Officer

Sutton, Surrey
Harris Federation

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 Academy Sutton. This role is likely to suit an individual looking to develop in a school environment with attendance related experience.

About Us

We believe that a happy and settled staff body helps drive the very best performance from our students. We are committed to a high-quality professional development programme and can drawn on expertise from across the Harris Federation. As a HASU member of staff at any level you will receive the training and support that you need to carry out your role effectively and develop at a pace that suits you.

We are committed to ensuring that our staff have the right level of balance between work and home life. Our policies and procedures are aimed at allowing our teaching staff to spend as much time as possible planning and delivering lessons.

We work in an award-winning building with excellent facilities. Our thriving staff association ensures all new members of staff soon feel part of the HASU community.

We run a broad and diverse curriculum to a fully comprehensive intake of students.

Our focus on the core value of Integrity means that our behaviour is excellent, with staff supported by a strong and highly visible Academy Leadership Group. Detentions are run centrally, allowing teaching staff to do what they do best: plan and teach amazing lessons.

Attendance and engagement with learning is high, and centrally planned tutor time resources ensure that our tutors can engage with students whilst delivering high-quality experiences.

We are located in Sutton, with good public transport and road links. Central London (Clapham, Victoria) is 25 minutes away, whereas journeys from Kent and Surrey take just over 30 minutes by car. We have safe and secure onsite parking with electric charging points.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Your responsibilities will include

• Assisting ALG 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
• Making home visits with the Academy welfare manager as required;
• Sending letters to parents regarding attendance matters as requested by the Academy Welfare Manager
• Ensuring the smooth operation of the computerised registration system
• Ensuring daily attendance information is entered accurately
• Establishing the reason for absences
• 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 with poor attendance
• Monitoring student attendance together with progress and performance in relation to individual targets
• Dealing efficiently and effectively with referrals on attendance concerns
• Alerting the appropriate staff to problems experienced by students and to make recommendations as to how these may be resolved
• Communicating with the parents of students and with persons or bodies outside the Academy concerned with the welfare of individual students as appropriate
• Meeting with LAC students weekly and passing on any relevant information regarding their welfare

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

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 (MIS) for input and export of student attendance data
• Training on MIS 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, this to include completing weekly, half termly and annual reports as requested in liaison with Assistant Principal
• Experience in a similar role
• Experience of working with young people
• Experience of working with young people with challenging behaviour

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 including access to a virtual GP, electric car scheme, and many other benefits.

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, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.