About this role
This is a role for someone who can remove barriers to school attendance by working directly with pupils, families and partner agencies to improve daily attendance and punctuality — with a particular focus on disadvantaged pupils, Pupil Premium and young carers. You will use attendance data to target support, run family outreach, and help the school exceed national attendance figures for all pupil groups.
What you'll be doing
- Hold responsibility for improving attendance for a caseload of pupils, including Pupil Premium and young carers.
- Monitor daily attendance and punctuality, record actions taken and produce half-termly attendance reports.
- Work closely with families using outreach and tailored strategies to re-engage pupils and remove barriers to attendance.
- Liaise with the Associate Assistant Principal (attendance), Vice Principal (pastoral), Heads of Year, form tutors, the LA Attendance Officer and other external agencies to coordinate support.
- Support and prepare materials for attendance meetings with staff and parents.
- Help identify and access funds (via the DOL responsible for Pupil Premium) to support individual pupils where appropriate.
- Maintain and update attendance records and provide administrative support as required.
- Contribute to transition planning for pupils with prior attendance issues and signpost pupils for Early Help where relevant.
- Take part in a rota for late duties and undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade.
What we're looking for
Essential
- GCSEs including English and Maths.
- Demonstrable experience working in a school or attendance-related service and with multi-agency partners.
- Knowledge of current attendance guidance and the legal framework around school attendance.
- Understanding of issues affecting non-attendance and safeguarding responsibilities.
- Strong written and interpersonal skills, confident IT ability (Microsoft Office, email).
- Ability to handle confidential information sensitively and to engage effectively with pupils, parents and professionals.
Desirable
- Prior experience of working with disadvantaged cohorts (Pupil Premium) or young carers.
About the team or department
You will be part of the pastoral / Pupil Support Team, reporting to the Associate Assistant Principal responsible for attendance and working alongside the Vice Principal responsible for pastoral care and the LA Attendance Officer.
What we offer
- Salary and grade: TCAT GRADE 6 (scp 15-22) £26,404 - £30,303 (actual).
- 37 hours per week, term time only plus 3 days.
- A role with direct impact on pupils' school engagement and outcomes.
At The Challenge Academy Trust, we are building a culture that champions better work and working lives across the Trust; a framework to support and develop our workforce from ‘hire to retire’. We are committed to providing a workload that is fair and reasonable, work environment where employee health and wellbeing are actively supported and promoted and structured personal and professional development.
Our staff offer also includes
Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme / Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
An Occupational Sick Pay Scheme (entitlements based on service).
Access to TCAT+ our Reward & Wellbeing platform, including access to retailer discounts, a car lease scheme, discounted healthcare cash plan, cycle to work scheme and online resources to support physical, emotional, professional, financial and social wellbeing.
Access to a comprehensive CPD framework through ‘Education Connect’ our professional development arm, and online resources from the National College’.
About us
Penketh High School.
Penketh High School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references, qualifications, experience checks, medical clearance, enhanced DBS checks, social media checks, and documentary evidence showing your entitlement to work in the UK.