Attendance Officer

Cottenham Village College; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development through Astre

Employee Assistance Programme

Wellbeing support

Trust networks and career progression

Job summary

Cottenham Village College is seeking an Attendance Officer to drive improvements in attendance and punctuality across the academy. This 37 hours per week, term-time-only, permanent role involves working closely with scholars, families and staff to develop effective systems and address absenteeism.

You will monitor data, contact parents, conduct home visits when needed, and contribute to attendance plans. The ideal candidate will have strong communications, resilience and a commitment to

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and relationship-building with students, families and staff.
• Experience in education or youth work.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting welfare of young people.
• Ability to work as part of a pastoral team.
• Strong ICT and data management skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive improvements in attendance and punctuality across the school.
• Monitor attendance data and identify trends and persistent absence.
• Work with scholars, families and staff to improve attendance levels.
• Contact parents and carers about attendance concerns and absence.
• Conduct home visits where required to support attendance strategies.
• Maintain accurate attendance records on the MIS.
• Prepare attendance correspondence and support attendance-related meetings.
• Contribute to attendance support plans and monitor effectiveness.
• Liaise with senior leaders, safeguarding staff and other stakeholders about attendance concerns.
• Produce attendance reports and maintain clear records of interventions.
• Ensure registers are accurate and follow up on missing marks.

Skills

Excellent communication

Relationship-building

Experience with young people

Safeguarding awareness

Resilience and professionalism

ICT/data management

Tools

Attendance data software

Job description

Attendance Officer

Cottenham Village College
37 hours per week, Term Time Only, Permanent
Start Date: ASAP
Closing Date: 27th September 2026

About Cottenham Village College

Cottenham Village College is an ambitious and thriving 11 to 16 academy on the edge of Cambridge, serving a proud and diverse community. As part of Astrea Academy Trust, we are committed to providing every scholar with an exceptional education built on high expectations, strong relationships and a culture of excellence. Our students are polite, capable and eager to succeed, while our staff are collaborative, reflective and dedicated to improving outcomes for every child. This is an exciting opportunity to join a school that values professionalism, consistency and the belief that education can transform lives.

About the Role

We are seeking a dedicated and resilient Attendance Officer to play a key role in improving attendance and punctuality across the academy. Working closely with scholars, families and staff, you will support the development of effective attendance systems, challenge persistent absence and help ensure that every scholar has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

This is a highly rewarding role for someone who is passionate about supporting young people and confident in building positive relationships while addressing attendance concerns professionally and effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive improvements in attendance and punctuality across the school.
• Monitor attendance data and identify trends, concerns and persistent absence.
• Work collaboratively with scholars, families and staff to improve attendance levels.
• Contact parents and carers regarding attendance concerns and absence.
• Conduct home visits where required to support attendance improvement strategies.
• Maintain accurate attendance records and ensure data is updated correctly on the school's MIS.
• Prepare attendance correspondence and support attendance-related meetings.
• Contribute to attendance support plans and monitor their effectiveness.
• Liaise with senior leaders, safeguarding staff, SEND teams and other stakeholders regarding attendance concerns.
• Produce attendance reports and maintain clear records of interventions and actions.
• Ensure registers are completed accurately and follow up on missing marks and unexplained absences.
• Support a positive culture of attendance, punctuality and scholar success.

What We're Looking For

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Confidence in having challenging but supportive conversations with families.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience of working with young people, families or within an educational environment.
• Resilience, professionalism and a solution-focused approach.
• A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people.
• The ability to work effectively as part of a wider pastoral and support team.
• Strong ICT skills and confidence using management information systems and attendance data.

Benefits of Working at Cottenham Village College

• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of young people.
• Be part of a dedicated and supportive staff team.
• Access to excellent professional development through Astrea Academy Trust.
• Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support.
• Access to wider Trust networks and career progression opportunities.
• Access to a wide range of employee benefits

Commitment to Safeguarding and EDI

Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to satisfactory background checks, including references and an enhanced DBS check. We value diversity and welcome applications from underrepresented groups. As a Disability Confident employer, we provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to ensure all candidates can fully demonstrate their abilities.

In line with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 and the statutory Code of Practice, the Trust requires all public-facing post holders to demonstrate fluent English. Within a school setting, this applies to all roles that involve direct or indirect interaction with pupils, parents, or members of the public.

Flexible Interview Dates

Please note that interview dates are flexible, and the academy reserves the right to interview shortlisted candidates during the application window.