Pastoral Support Officer at Cottenham Village College in Cambridge

About the School

Cottenham Village College is a thriving 11-16 secondary school committed to providing a safe, inclusive and ambitious learning environment where every student is supported to succeed. We have high expectations of behaviour, attendance and achievement, underpinned by strong pastoral systems and positive relationships with students and families. We are proud of our supportive staff culture, our commitment to safeguarding and wellbeing, and our focus on enabling all learners to thrive both academically and personally.

The Role

As a Pastoral Support Officer, you will play a vital role in shaping a positive and orderly student experience across the academy day. Working closely with Heads of Year and the wider pastoral team, you will support behaviour management, exclusions, attendance and safeguarding, whilst ensuring continuity of learning for students placed in internal suspension and RESET provision. This is a varied, rewarding role for someone who is highly organised, calm under pressure and passionate about supporting young people.

Key Responsibilities

• Support behaviour management across the academy, including supervision before and after the school day
• Work closely with Heads of Year, DSLs and senior leaders to support student wellbeing, safeguarding and pastoral needs
• Triage and manage students in the RESET base, maintaining accurate records and ensuring learning continuity
• Monitor attendance, follow up concerns and escalations issues in line with academy policy
• Liaise with parents/carers regarding pastoral matters, detentions and suspensions, ensuring clear and professional communication
• Process suspensions, organise work packs and coordinate the return and distribution of completed work
• Maintain accurate pastoral records on Bromcom and produce reports as required
• Support first aid provision and contribute fully to meetings, events and the wider life of the college

We Are Looking For Someone Who:

• Has experience of working with children or young people, ideally in a school or pastoral setting
• Can manage behaviour confidently and respond calmly to challenging situations
• Is highly organised, with strong administrative and record-keeping skills
• Communicates effectively with students, families, staff and external agencies
• Is committed to safeguarding, student wellbeing and high professional standards
• Can prioritise their workload and work flexibly as part of a busy pastoral team

Commitment to Safeguarding and EDI: Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to satisfactory background checks, including references and an enhanced DBS check. We value diversity and welcome applications from underrepresented groups. As a Disability Confident employer, we provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to ensure all candidates can fully demonstrate their abilities. In line with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 and the statutory Code of Practice, the Trust requires all public-facing post holders to demonstrate fluent English. Within a school setting, this applies to all roles that involve direct or indirect interaction with pupils, parents, or members of the public.

Flexible Interview Dates: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, so don't miss out on this exciting opportunity. Please note that interview dates are flexible, and the academy reserves the right to interview shortlisted candidates during the application window.