Attendance Officer

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are looking for an Attendance Officer to join our dedicated team at Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich.

The actual salary for this role will be £27,588.90-£29,219.39 (39 weeks per year, 37.5 hours per week).

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Sound knowledge of Microsoft software
• Knowledge of BromCom system for input and export of student attendance data
• Training on BromCom system 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

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

What the school offers its staff

HGAED is a great place to work. At a time when there is so much attention, deservedly so, on teacher wellbeing and workloads, we are committed to ensuring our staff have work-life balance by reducing unnecessary admin work and meetings. We dedicate time and resources to staff wellbeing and development, ranging from NPQSL qualifications to meditation and teacher hacks such as whole class feedback to reduce workload. We are looking for staff who share our commitment to developing themselves personally as well as professionally, who are open to feedback and development and share our vision for our whole community. We believe very strongly that education can be transformative for all. We'd love you to be part of the transformation of our students' lives.

The staff here at HGAED are supportive, ambitious for our students, and happy. Our Head of Art, Clare, writes ‘The students are astute, funny and thirsty for life. They are invigorating and I really love teaching them. They keep me on my toes. But what I most appreciate working here is that we work in a climate where all ideas are encouraged, no matter how impossible they may seem, and I have seen some fantastic dreams come into being, the art gallery, the debate cake sessions and the research centre all starting to gain momentum. Not many schools would take such risks and I truly value being listened to and challenged to go beyond what I think I can do.'

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 includesour Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS,a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits. Learn more aboutour benefitson our website.

Further details about the role

Your responsibilities will include:

• Recording accurate student registers on BromCom
• Contacting parents or carers regarding absences and logging reasons
• Prioritising daily attendance checks for vulnerable students and reporting to the Director of Pastoral Care and DSL
• Making daily calls to confirm unexplained absences
• Maintaining late registration records and issuing U code letters
• Reviewing absence codes weekly for accuracy
• Sending attendance letters as requested by senior staff
• Investigating reasons for absences in liaison with tutors and staff
• Following up on poor attendance and punctuality organising meetings home visits and monitoring student contracts
• Preparing and distributing attendance and punctuality certificates
• Signing students in and out outside normal hours and notifying parents when required
• Liaising with welfare officers and external agencies to address attendance concerns
• Monitoring attendance against individual targets and taking appropriate action
• Providing accurate referral information to leadership
• Alerting staff to student issues and recommending solutions
• Communicating with parents carers and external bodies regarding student welfare
• Attending weekly pastoral meetings to review attendance and actions

Commitment to safeguarding

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.