Attendance Officer

We are seeking a highly organised, proactive, and dedicated Attendance Officer to join our school’s busy office team. This is a vital role in supporting and promoting excellent attendance and punctuality across Years 7–13, ensuring that attendance remains a whole‑school priority.

Working closely with pastoral teams, families, teaching staff, the Education Welfare Officer, and external agencies, you will play a key part in safeguarding pupils, identifying concerns early, and helping students achieve their full potential through consistent school attendance.

Alongside your core duties, you will provide confidential administrative support and contribute to the smooth running of reception and office functions, including parents’ evenings. This is a rewarding and fast‑paced role where strong communication, accuracy, and a positive approach make a real impact.

• Attendance Monitoring

• Ensuring registers are completed accurately and on time, with no missing marks or unexplained absences.
• Following up all unexplained absences through first-day calling, emailing, and texting.
• Advising on register coding and ensuring accurate attendance data on the school MIS.
• Monitoring student sign‑in and sign‑out procedures.
• Identifying poor attenders with Heads of Year and form tutors, monitoring lesson attendance, and supporting early intervention.
• Monitoring attendance of vulnerable groups and liaising with the pastoral team.
• Initiating fixed penalty notice procedures and preparing documentation for unauthorised absences.
• Producing attendance reports and analysis for tutors, Heads of Year, and SLT.
• Identifying trends and patterns, ensuring data is accurate, timely, and actionable.

• Promoting good attendance and punctuality through assemblies, communications, rewards, and initiatives.
• Working directly with targeted students and families to improve attendance.
• Liaising with the Education Welfare Officer and attending multi‑agency meetings when required.
• Conducting home visits where necessary and in accordance with school policy.
• Challenging existing attendance concerns for new arrivals by contacting previous schools.
• Coordinating with the Exams Officer to follow up missing students during examination periods.
• Arranging meetings, preparing agendas, and taking minutes as needed.
• Informing parents of truancy incidents and liaising with social services for Looked After Children.

• Managing the online parents’ evening system, including scheduling, communication, and staff liaison.
• Attending parents’ evenings to discuss attendance concerns with families.
• Supporting the day‑to‑day running of reception and the administrative office as required.

• Is highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
• Communicates clearly, confidently, and professionally with a wide range of people.
• Is proactive, reliable, and able to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Demonstrates integrity, confidentiality, and resilience.
• Builds strong working relationships and works collaboratively as part of a supportive team.
• Welcomes training, development, and opportunities to expand their expertise.

Experience in school attendance or pastoral support is beneficial, but not essential—we welcome applicants eager to learn and positively contribute to our school community.

In addition to a rewarding and dynamic work environment, we offer an attractive benefits package, including:

• A competitive pension plan.
• Free flu vaccinations.
• Free on-site parking.
• Access to the Blue Light Card, unlocking hundreds of discounts nationwide for just £5.

A comprehensive job description is available, outlining the full responsibilities and expectations for the Attendance Officer role.

Please note: We reserve the right to interview candidates during the application window and may close the vacancy early if a suitable candidate is found.

Colyton Grammar School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers, online and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). We particularly welcome applications from under represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.