Attendance Officer | Outstanding Secondary Academy | Camden in London

The Opportunity

Camden is a borough of extraordinary contrasts and creative energy, stretching from the global transport hub of King’s Cross to the intellectual heart of Bloomsbury. We are seeking a proactive and resilient Attendance Officer to join an Ofsted-rated 'Outstanding' secondary academy. In this role, you will act as a vital link between the academy, the home, and the local community, ensuring that every student has the consistent presence required to access the world-class opportunities that Camden has to offer.

The Role & Safeguarding Culture

You will join a sophisticated Pastoral and Safeguarding team where attendance is viewed as the primary indicator of student wellbeing and academic potential. The role involves navigating the complexities of an inner-city London environment, working with families from a vast array of cultural and linguistic backgrounds to improve engagement. As an 'Outstanding' setting, we utilise proactive intervention and restorative practice, aiming to identify the root causes of absence—whether social, emotional, or practical—and dismantle them. We maintain robust partnerships with Camden’s Integrated Youth Support Services and local Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs (MASH) to ensure a comprehensive support network for our students.

Core Responsibilities

• Strategic Oversight: Maintaining the academy’s attendance database (SIMS/Arbor), ensuring 100% accuracy in daily registers and identifying emerging patterns of concern.
• Family Engagement: Leading home visits and school-based attendance panels, employing a high degree of empathy and persistence to re-engage students with their learning.
• Data Analysis: Interpreting complex attendance data to produce reports for the Senior Leadership Team, tracking the impact of interventions on persistent absence (PA) figures.
• Statutory Compliance: Managing the administrative lifecycle of attendance enforcement, from initial warning letters to the coordination of Fixed Penalty Notices and court documentation where necessary.
• A Culture of Punctuality: Designing and implementing creative incentive schemes and assemblies that celebrate high attendance and reinforce the 'every day counts' ethos.

The Successful Candidate

We are looking for a professional who combines a firm commitment to standards with a deep-seated understanding of the barriers facing young people in London. Requirements include:

• Professional Experience: A background in education, pastoral care, or youth work, with specific experience in managing attendance or family liaison.
• Interpersonal Diplomacy: The ability to communicate with authority and sensitivity, building rapport with hard-to-reach families and diverse community stakeholders.
• Technical Proficiency: Confidence in using school management systems and Microsoft Excel to manage large datasets and produce professional reports.
• Resilience: The emotional intelligence and physical stamina required for home visits and managing challenging conversations with a calm, professional demeanour.

Why Join Us?

• The chance to work in an 'Outstanding' environment where student behaviour is exemplary and the attendance team is seen as a cornerstone of the academy's mission.
• Access to high-level professional development, including advanced safeguarding training and local authority legal briefings.
• The opportunity to work in Camden—a world-famous borough offering unparalleled cultural richness, iconic markets, and the prestige of working in the heart of London’s knowledge quarter.
• A professional community that values innovation, tenacity, and the belief that every student deserves an uninterrupted education.

How to Apply

Please submit your current CV to begin the application process.