Attendance Assistant

Shorefields; Colchester; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 21,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Cash Plan

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work scheme

Perkbox free membership

Blue Light Card

Job summary

Paxman Academy, part of The Sigma Trust, is seeking an Attendance Assistant to join our team. The role focuses on accurate attendance data management, proactive parent communication, and supporting the Attendance Officer to improve overall attendance and reduce persistent absence.

The post is permanent and part-time, 37 hours per week over 39 weeks per year, with a 8am–4pm Monday–Friday schedule. Immediate start following checks is anticipated.

Qualifications

• Experience performing administrative work in a busy office environment.
• Excellent time management, organisational, and administrative skills.
• Ability to work with tact and diplomacy while maintaining confidentiality.
• Prior experience dealing with school attendance processes is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Accurate Data Management: Ensuring all student registers are completed daily and attendance data is accurate within MIS.
• Proactive Communication: Communicating with parents/carers about absence or lateness and logging calls.
• Daily Monitoring: Registering late students and managing those who leave/return during the day.
• Operational Support: Assisting Attendance Officer and contributing to attendance strategies.
• Improving Outcomes: Aiming to improve attendance levels and reduce persistent absence.
• General Administration: Supporting smooth department operations.

Skills

Time management

Organisational skills

Confidentiality

School attendance processes

Tools

Photocopier

Job description

Position Start Date: Immediate Contract Type: Part-time Contract Term: Permanent

Application Close: 20/09/2026 Midnight Date of Interviews: 25th September 2026

Join a Team That is Committed to 'Building Brighter Futures' at Paxman Academy

Are you highly organised, detail-oriented, and passionate about supporting student success?

At Paxman Academy, we're dedicated to creating a collaborative and stimulating environment for the benefit and wellbeing of our staff, students and broader community.

We're searching for an exceptional Attendance Assistant to become a vital part of our team and help us to actively promote and maintain high levels of student attendance across the school.

• Start Date: ASAP following pre-employment checks
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Working Hours: 37 hours per week, 39 weeks per year (term time plus non-pupil days)
• Working Pattern: Monday to Friday 8am - 4pm (3:30pm Friday)

A Day in the Life:

Key Responsibilities include:

• Accurate Data Management: Ensuring all student registers are completed daily and maintaining complete accuracy of attendance data, including off-site activities, within the School's Management Information System (MIS).
• Proactive Communication: Operating the daily automated system and directly communicating with parents/carers regarding student absence or lateness, meticulously recording all calls and reasons for absence.
• Daily Monitoring: Registering late students and managing students who leave or return to the site during the academy day.
• Operational Support: Providing essential clerical and operational support to the Attendance Officer and contributing to whole-academy attendance strategies.
• Improving Outcomes: Working directly to improve overall attendance levels and reduce persistent absence in line with academy targets.
• General Administration: Undertaking various administrative duties to support the smooth running of the department.

What We're Looking For: You are the perfect fit for our team if you have:

• Experience performing administrative work in a busy office environment and good working knowledge of standard office equipment (e.g., photocopier).
• Excellent time management, organisational, and administrative skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks, work under pressure, and meet tight deadlines.
• The ability to work with tact and diplomacy while maintaining the highest level of confidentiality.
• Prior experience dealing with school attendance processes is highly desirable.

Why Choose The Sigma Trust? We believe in investing in our staff and fostering a culture of collaboration. We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive package designed to support your professional and personal life.

Professional Development:

• A robust CPD training program that empowers you to flourish.
• Unrivalled opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the Trust, sharing ideas and building strong professional relationships.

Employee Benefits:

• A competitive salary and excellent pension scheme.
• A Health Cash Plan to help manage your everyday healthcare costs.
• Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Programme to support your well-being.
• Exclusive perks like the Cycle to Work scheme, access to discounts via free membership to Perkbox, eligibility for a Blue Light Card, and more.

Commitment to Safeguarding & Diversity

The Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment processes, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools.

The Sigma Trust is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of any protected characteristics. This is embedded in our vision 'To Be Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts', where we believe we are strong and more successful working together, creating a workplace which celebrates diversity.

Information about the School

Paxman Academy opened in September 2019 and admitted 180 Year 7 students in the first year.

Paxman Academy is committed to providing an ordered, stimulating learning environment in which all students are encouraged to achieve their best. It is determined that all students should be valued through the provision of a broad, relevant, balanced and challenging curriculum that caters for individual needs; this is encouraged within an atmosphere of mutual respect. The Academy recognises its role within the broader community. It is determined to maintain a STEM focus throughout the curriculum and across extended learning opportunities. It identifies learning as a lifelong process and values the contribution made by parents and others to the creation of a partnership. Within this partnership, and through learning opportunities provided, students will develop skills, attitudes and values that prepare them to accept the challenges and responsibilities of adult life.

Paxman Academy embraces the values of The Sigma Trust to ensure that all students will fulfil their potential and transform life chances for all.

SafeguardingThe Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools.

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.

Documents

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Sigma Trust HR Team
Paxman Avenue, Colchester
Essex, CO2 9DQ Telephone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]