Attendance Leader

Appleton Academy; Bradford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fantastic outdoor facilities

Opportunities for further development

Healthy work-life balance

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Free on-site parking

Excellent employer pension scheme

Job summary

Appleton Academy in Bradford is seeking an inspirational Attendance Leader to drive attendance across primary and secondary phases. You will lead the attendance provision, analyse data to identify trends, and implement targeted interventions to reduce absence and promote punctuality.

You will work with pastoral, safeguarding, SEND and inclusion teams, families and external agencies to remove barriers to attendance, reporting to senior leaders and governors.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of leading successful attendance initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of attendance legislation, safeguarding, and pastoral care.
• Excellent data analysis, communication, and organisational skills.
• Ability to inspire and lead teams, manage change, and build relationships with families and external agencies.
• Commitment to inclusive education and improving life chances for all pupils.
• Lead and quality-assure attendance strategies and manage the Attendance Team.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the academy's attendance provision to improve attendance and punctuality.
• Analyse attendance data, identify trends, and develop targeted action plans.
• Collaborate with pastoral, safeguarding, SEND, inclusion teams, families and external agencies.
• Provide attendance reports to senior leaders and governors and ensure compliance.
• Manage and develop the Attendance Team, including Attendance Coaches.

Skills

Attendance leadership

Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Safeguarding knowledge

Pastoral care

Team leadership

Change management

Communication

Organisational skills

Inclusion advocacy

Job description

Together with our community, we can achieve extraordinary things.

Inspire our children and young people to make goals and plans that challenges their potential to be their best.

Develop the knowledge, skills, and "tools" our children and young people need to achieve their goals.

Nurture and empower our children and young people to have the confidence and resilience to achieve their goals and succeed.

Appleton Academy is currently seeking an inspirational and experienced Attendance Leader who will work across both the primary and secondary phases of the academy.

The successful candidate will lead and develop the Academy's attendance provision, ensuring all pupils are supported to attend regularly, engage positively with learning and achieve their full potential. Working under the direction of the Executive Headteacher, Head of Primary and Head of Secondary, they will implement the Academy's attendance strategy, promote a culture of high attendance and punctuality, and coordinate effective interventions to reduce persistent and severe absence.

They will monitor and analyse attendance data, identify trends and emerging concerns, and use this information to develop targeted action plans for individuals and key groups. The successful candidate will work closely with pastoral, safeguarding, SEND and inclusion teams, as well as families and external agencies, to remove barriers to attendance. They will also provide attendance reports and analysis for senior leaders and governors, quality assure attendance systems and interventions, and ensure compliance with statutory attendance guidance and Academy procedures.

The successful candidate will lead, motivate and inspire the existing attendance team, comprising of a Senior Attendance Officer and Attendance Administrator.

The successful candidate will have;

• A proven track record of leading successful attendance initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of attendance legislation, safeguarding, and pastoral care.
• Excellent data analysis, communication, and organisational skills.
• The ability to inspire and lead teams, manage change, and build strong relationships with families and external agencies.
• A commitment to inclusive education and improving life chances for all pupils.
• Leading and quality-assuring attendance and punctuality strategies across the Academy.
• Managing and developing the Attendance Team, including Attendance Coaches.
• Using data to monitor trends, identify barriers, and implement targeted interventions.
• Collaborating with families and external partners to promote positive attendance habits.
• Reporting on attendance performance to senior leaders and governors.
• Championing a culture of inclusion, wellbeing, and high expectations.

We can offer:

• Children who are enthusiastic to learn
• Supportive Trust central team, school leadership, governors, staff and parents
• Fantastic outdoor facilities
• Opportunities for further development and training
• A healthy work-life balance
• Free access to an Employee Assistance Programme
• Free, on-site parking
• Excellent employer pension contribution scheme

Exceed Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Shortlisted candidates will be subject to related online content checks, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check as well as successful completion of a probationary period.

Exceed Academies Trust strives to be an employer of choice. We are an inclusive and diverse multi academy trust and ultimately, our aim is to employ a workforce that reflects the communities it serves. We are committed to achieving a balanced workforce at all levels, whilst ensuring that no individual is disadvantaged or treated less favourably. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, faiths and ethnicities and will ensure a fair recruitment process without discrimination, in compliance with the Equality Act 2010.

Exceed Academies Trust recognises and promotes the positive use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in certain situations. We would encourage any job applicants, who choose to utilise AI when completing a vacancy application, to thoroughly check the data prior to submission, to ensure it is accurate, factual and demonstrable. Candidate suitability will be assessed at interview, however the recruitment process will reference information contained within the candidate's application form. Any information contained within application form which is found to be factually inaccurate, may result in a conditional offer of employment being withdrawn.