EWO​/Attendance Manager; Maternity Cover

Are you a proactive leader ready to strategically influence student outcomes through maximising attendance?

Join us as an Education Welfare Officer/Attendance Manager, where you will lead the attendance team and drive whole-school strategies to significantly improve student attendance and educational access. This senior position requires legislative expertise, exceptional interpersonal skills, and the capacity to engage families constructively, often in complex situations, to prioritise student access to learning.

Working pattern: 37 hours per week, term time plus 5 days.

As Attendance Manager, you will lead the academy’s attendance and punctuality policy, driving whole-school strategies to improve overall attendance and reduce persistent absence.

In this role, you will combine strategic oversight with hands‑on operational and administrative leadership. Core responsibilities include managing the attendance Management Information System (MIS), operating automated parent contact systems, and conducting daily 'Late Gate' patrols.

You will work directly with students and families to identify barriers to attendance, providing both supportive interventions and necessary challenge. Where required, you will conduct home visits, coordinate with multi‑agency safeguarding partners, and manage statutory enforcement—including preparing legal evidence for court proceedings or Penalty Notices and acting as a witness. Additionally, you will analyze attendance data for senior leadership and lead attendance panels and fast-track meetings.

About the Candidate We are looking for a highly motivated, resilient, and suitably qualified Attendance Manager to join our team in a fast‑paced environment. Working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, you will act as a key liaison between the academy, families, and external agencies while keeping safeguarding at the heart of everything you do.

If you possess the interpersonal skills, operational capability, and determination to make a tangible difference in our students' lives, we would love to hear from you.

Candidates must hold a relevant Level 3 qualification or an equivalent related professional qualification. Essential experience includes using an education welfare, social work, or counselling approach to work with parents and children, alongside a strong background in record keeping and report writing.

Crucially, the post holder must possess knowledge of the legislative framework that governs school attendances and the ability to undertake assessments and write reports to a high standard. Resilience and the ability to work effectively in difficult, conflict‑ridden situations are also essential.

Working in school attendance requires high emotional resilience and a professional, calm demeanor when navigating difficult situations or managing conflict.