Job Description
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Start Date: September 2026
Contract: Full Time | 39 weeks per year | Term Time Only (plus INSET days)
Salary: Scale 7 Point 19 - 24 (pro-rata)
Closing Date: 12th May 2026
We are seeking to appoint a dedicated, organised and proactive Attendance Officer to join our pastoral and safeguarding teams at our large, thriving academy secondary school. This is a key role in supporting pupils and students to achieve their full potential by promoting excellent attendance and punctuality across the school.
About the Role
The successful candidate will play a central role in monitoring and improving pupil and student attendance. Working closely with pastoral leaders, safeguarding staff, and external agencies, you will ensure that attendance procedures are followed effectively and that pupils, students and families are supported where attendance is a concern.
Key Responsibilities
- Line management of the Attendance Assistant
- To meet with Pastoral Leaders on a regular basis to analyse and discuss attendance data for each year group and to drive specific interventions and strategies to improve attendance
- To work with Year Teams to initiate bespoke strategies to improve the attendance of vulnerable groups
- To meet with the Designated Safeguarding Lead to discuss the strategical actions related to attendance for vulnerable groups, specifically LAC, PLAC, students open to social care
- To meet with the Designated Safeguarding Lead to discuss the strategical actions relating to attendance for vulnerable groups
- Managing student attendance data, providing regular updates including an overview of:
- Whole school absence and data from years 7-13 weekly
- Absence rates for years 7-11 weekly
- Weekly persistent absence rate
- Pupil Premium absence rates
- To utilise the SOL attendance tracker to support both detailed analysis and accurate record keeping of pupil attendance
- To identify and monitor specific cohorts of pupils through attendance data, ensuring targeted tracking and intervention where required
- Collate absence communications and manage discrepancies via communication with Year Teams
- Administering pupils/students' lates and coordinating pupils/students signing in and out during the school day
- To coordinate and monitor attendance for pupils accessing internal and external alternative provision, liaising with provision providers, the Pastoral Team, SENDCo, and families to ensure accurate recording and timely intervention where attendance concerns are identified
- To undertake first day response calls and follow-up absence calls where attendance concerns escalate
- To build positive and professional relationships with families in order to support improved attendance and engagement
- To support outreach work, including home visits where appropriate, to address barriers to attendance and improve engageme
- To provide form tutors with the average total percentage rates of their tutor groups weekly, and the form's position within the year team
- Ensure that attendance registers and absence coding are accurate and compliant with DfE statutory guidance and school policy
- Ensure absence is authorised in line with DfE guidance and the school's Attendance Policy
- To monitor and follow up on staff compliance with attendance registers, including liaising directly with staff to address any concerns
- To provide termly data for Headteacher's Report to Governors/Trustees
- To administer leave of absence requests
- To administer admissions and deletions from the school roll for Essex County Council
- To administer fire drill registers
- To lead and minute school-based meetings with families who have barriers to attendance
- To work in conjunction with the Local Authority to ensure statutory processes are followed, including penalty notices and legal interventions where appropriate
- Ensure all attendance processes are carried out in line with statutory requirements, DfE guidance and Local Authority procedures
- Support the school in meeting its statutory safeguarding responsibilities by identifying and escalating attendance concerns
- To engage in regular review cycles with line management to evaluate attendance data and determine appropriate escalation and intervention strategies
- To contribute to the development of whole-school strategies to promote and reward good attendance
- To undertake any other duties commensurate with the role, as reasonably requested by the Headteacher
We are looking for people who are:
- Highly organised with strong time management and prioritisation skills
- Demonstrate composure and decisive action during peak periods and shifting priorities
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Work effectively both independently and as part of a team
- Show sensitivity, discretion and a clear understanding of confidentiality
- Be proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Outlook, Excel) and other data management systems
- Be confident in working with data to analyse and identify trends
- Respond appropriately, professionally and confidently to all stakeholders
- Be flexible and willing to support wider administrative needs where required
- Approach tasks with enthusiasm and a personable, engaging demeanour
- Comply with safeguarding requirements
What We Offer
- A supportive and collaborative working environment
- Opportunities for professional development and training
- A well-resourced school with a strong pastoral structure
- Access for you and your immediate family to our Employee Assistance Programme
- The chance to make a real difference to students' lives
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is at the heart of everything we do. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
This role is 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 39 weeks per year (term time plus training days), with 30 minutes for lunch (unpaid). Salary £32,061 - £35,412 per annum, £27,486 - £30,495 (pro rata). Annual leave must be taken during school holidays.
How to Apply
Please complete the application form and submit a supporting statement outlining your suitability for the role to Kelly Gelder at hr@rayleighschoolstrust.com.
Information about the School
Welcome to The Sweyne Park School, we are a larger than average mixed, 11-18 comprehensive school. The School became an academy on 1st April 2013 and opened its Sixth Form in September 2014.
Our school is a safe and happy environment and central to our school is a belief in respect - respect for yourself, respect for others and respect for the environment. We believe that our focus on respect leads to high expectations and excellent discipline, and this in turn leads to the highest possible achievement for each individual pupil. In December 2018 we were the first Secondary School in the East of England to achieve the prestigious Rights Respecting Gold Award.
At Sweyne Park we are determined to provide first class teaching and learning for all our pupils. This aim is supported by our commitment to recruiting and retaining the very best staff, and our nationally recognised programme of staff training. We do our utmost to ensure our pupils achieve strong examination results and progress on to high quality destinations. We provide a broad and balanced academic curriculum with a wide range of cultural, artistic, sporting and social opportunities.
We are committed to very strong partnerships between home, school and community members. We believe that the whole community can contribute to motivating and supporting pupils’ progress.
In October 2017, the Sweyne Park School and Glebe Primary formed a Multi-Academy Trust, the Rayleigh Schools Trust (“The RST”).