Attendance Officer

To take a lead role in promoting, monitoring, and improving student attendance across the school. The postholder will work proactively with students, parents/carers, staff, and external agencies to remove barriers to attendance, secure positive engagement with education and improve outcomes for all students. Through detailed analysis of attendance data, the Attendance Officer will identify trends, patterns, and disparities across key student groups, coordinate targeted interventions, support safeguarding processes, and contribute strategically to the school’s attendance, inclusion, and improvement priorities.

Attendance Monitoring and Intervention

Monitor daily attendance and punctuality using the school MIS.
Administration of leave of absence requests.
Complete first-day response procedures for unexplained student absence, including phone calls home.
Identify attendance concerns, persistent absence and severe absence through analysis of attendance data.
Maintain accurate attendance records and ensure compliance with statutory requirements.
Prepare daily, weekly and termly attendance reports for leaders, pastoral staff and governors.
Coordinate and monitor attendance improvement plans for identified students.
Support reintegration following periods of absence.

Attendance Analysis and Strategic Improvement

Analyse attendance and punctuality data for individual students, tutor groups, year groups and identified cohorts.
Monitor attendance outcomes for Pupil Premium students, SEND students, EHCP students, students from different ethnic backgrounds, EAL students, LAC/PLAC, young carers and FSM students.
Identify attendance gaps between groups and their peers.
Produce attendance analysis reports and recommendations for SLT and governors.
Evaluate the impact of attendance interventions and recommend improvements.
Contribute to the Attendance Improvement Plan.
Use attendance data to support safeguarding, inclusion and equality priorities.

Parental Engagement and Family Support

Build positive relationships with parents and carers.
Arrange and attend attendance meetings.
Undertake home visits where appropriate.
Provide guidance regarding attendance expectations and procedures.
Regularly monitor and discuss absence with parents for students who are persistently absent.

Multi-Agency Working

Liaise with the Local Authority, Education Welfare Services and external agencies.
Attend and contribute to multi-agency meetings.
Support attendance panels and legal intervention processes where required.

Safeguarding Responsibilities

Support the identification of vulnerable students whose attendance presents safeguarding concerns.
Follow safeguarding procedures and report concerns immediately to the DSL.
Maintain accurate and confidential records.

Communication and Administration

Produce attendance correspondence, reports and documentation.
Act as a key point of contact for attendance-related enquiries.
Maintain accurate records of interventions and communications.

Essential

Experience working with children, young people or families.
Experience of maintaining accurate records and confidential information.
Experience of analysing and interpreting attendance, behaviour or student-related data.
Ability to identify patterns and trends and translate findings into effective interventions.
Strong analytical and reporting skills.
Understanding of barriers to attendance faced by disadvantaged and vulnerable students.
Excellent organisational and communication skills.
Good ICT skills including Excel and school MIS systems.
Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
GCSE English and Mathematics (or equivalent).

Desirable

Experience working in a secondary school setting.
Previous attendance, safeguarding or pastoral experience.
Knowledge of attendance legislation and statutory guidance.
Experience of home visits and multi-agency working.
Knowledge of Arbor.

Safeguarding and Inclusion

Promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people.
Adhere to safeguarding and child protection procedures.
Promote equality, diversity and inclusion.

Health, Safety and Wellbeing

Carry out duties with due regard to health and safety.
Report concerns in line with school procedures.

Professional Development and Conduct

Participate in appraisal and professional development.
Follow all school policies and procedures.
Maintain high standards of professionalism and confidentiality.

Teamwork and Collaboration

Work collaboratively with colleagues across the school.
Contribute positively to the wider life of the school.

This job description is not exhaustive and may be reviewed and amended following consultation with the postholder.