Education Welfare Officer at Kettering Science Academy

Kettering Science Academy; Kettering; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Kettering Science Academy is seeking an Education Welfare Officer to join our inclusion and safeguarding team. The role focuses on improving attendance, reducing persistent absence, and removing barriers to learning for students at the academy.

We seek a committed, relational practitioner who works with families, students, and external agencies, supporting attendance through belonging, early intervention, and shared responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Building strong relationships with students and families, including home visits where appropriate
• Monitoring attendance data and identifying patterns of concern
• Working closely with pastoral teams, safeguarding staff, and senior leaders
• Liaising with external agencies including the Local Authority, Early Help, and social care
• Supporting statutory processes where required, with professionalism and care
• Contributing to a culture where attendance is everyone's business

Job description

About this Role

Education Welfare Officer (EWO)

Start date: 2nd November or as soon a possible thereafter

Closing date: Wednesday 14thOctober

Location: Kettering Science Academy

Salary: £34,842 - £36,906 FTE

Hours per week: 37 Hours, term time only(39 weeks)

Presence matters.Relationships matter. Attendance follows belonging.

At Kettering Science Academy, we believe that children dowell if they can. Attendance, engagement, and behaviour are not stand-aloneissues. They are deeply connected to relationships, safety, consistency, andhow seen and supported a young person feels.

We are seeking a committed and relational Education WelfareOfficer to join our inclusion and safeguarding team. This is a key role withinthe academy, working closely with families, students, pastoral leaders, andexternal agencies to improve attendance, reduce persistent absence, and removebarriers to learning.

You will be joining KSAat a time where we are strengthening our approach to attendance through threeclear principles: belonging, early intervention, and shared responsibility. Weare ambitious for our students and realistic about the complexity of theirlives. Our approach is firm, fair, and human.

This role is not about chasing figures. It is aboutunderstanding context, building trust, holding boundaries, and helping familiesnavigate challenges so that children can access education consistently andsafely.

The role will involve:

• Buildingstrong relationships with students and families, including home visits whereappropriate
• Monitoringattendance data and identifying patterns of concern
• Workingclosely with pastoral teams, safeguarding staff, and senior leaders
• Liaisingwith external agencies including the Local Authority, Early Help, and socialcare
• Supportingstatutory processes where required, with professionalism and care
• Contributingto a culture where attendance is everyone's business

What we offer:

• Asupportive, values-led leadership team
• Amodern school environment with strong pastoral systems
• High-qualityCPD and professional support through the Brooke Weston Trust
• Dailyallowance for breakfast and lunch
• Theopportunity to make a genuine difference to children and families

We are looking for someone who:

• Understandsthat attendance work is relational as well as procedural
• Communicatesclearly, calmly, and respectfully with families
• Canbalance challenge with empathy and consistency
• Isorganised, reflective, and confident working with data and systems
• Sharesour belief that every child deserves unconditional regard and high expectations

If you are motivated by impact, believe in early andthoughtful intervention, and want to work in a school where inclusion is livedrather than stated, we would love to hear from you.

About Kettering Science Academy

Kettering Science Academy was delighted to receive a GoodOfsted rating in July 2023. This report recognised the work which hasbeen done over many years in relentlessly focussing on providing stimulatinglearning experience for all our students. We actively encourage students toparticipate in all areas of academy life, motivating and inspiring them tounlock their potential and realise their ambitions. We believe education isabout more than achieving success in exams; it is about preparing students for thechallenges and demands of life beyond education. Staff have an uncompromisingcommitment to this and work closely with one another to support and developstudents as well as one another.

Brooke WestonTrust does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, sexualorientation, gender identity or expression, nationality, culture, age,disability, marital status or socio-economic backgrounds. We encourage andwelcome applications from minority groups and foster a work environment that isinclusive as well as diverse, where people can be themselves.

We are a thriving community of equals dedicated to creatinga great place to work and learn; students and staff are happy and proud to bepart of Kettering Science Academy's journey to being the best that we can beand we would like to offer you the opportunity to jump aboard and join us forthis journey!

The Benefits atBrooke Weston Trust we can offer you:

We offer a wide rangeof benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leaveentitlement starting at 25 days annual leave per year,plus bank holidays. An additional 3 days after 5 years' service and the abilityto purchase up to 10 days additional leave per year.
• One wellbeing day ayear, in addition to your annual leave
• Local GovernmentPension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, covering high street supermarkets,days out and holidays, health and beauty, dining out plus lots more.
• A freshly preparedbreakfast and hot or cold lunch each day in termtime, when you work in one of our Trust schools
• Payment ofprofessional subscription / membership -If your role requires you to be a member of a professional body, BWT will payfor your professional subscription or membership fees.
• Employee AssistanceProgramme - We have an employee support programme runby Your Care, an independent, external organisation. Your Care is available foryou, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephonecounselling, both face to face and online.
• Additional healthbenefits including aHealth Care cash plan andaccess to an online GP
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Ongoing opportunitiesfor training and development and access to theBWT Centre for Professional Development
• Collaborative andAmbitious colleagues with the support of acommitted team who work to maintain high standards and expectations
• Be the difference - At Brooke Weston Trust we believe every child deserves the bestpossible start, giving them a "ticket for life." If you want to useyour skills with an organisation committed to making a difference and improvinglives, this is the place for you

About Brooke Weston Trust

Our Trust was formedmore than 30 years ago with a simple and clear mission - to transformeducational performance in all of our communities. Working in some of the mostchallenging contexts, we improve our students' achievements by making long termcommitments to the community and championing new approaches to improve the lifechances for young people.

Our members of staffare essential to realising this vision, and a happy, motivated and supportedteam will deliver the best possible experiences for our young people.

We place greatemphasis on creating a supportive and collaborative working environment in allour schools, where all staff can share best practice through our colleaguenetworks. Brooke Weston Trust staff have access to first class professionaldevelopment through our Centre for Professional Development, which is also hometo the Northamptonshire Teaching School Hub.

Safer Recruitment

Care and respect for others are the values that lie at theheart of our Trust. The Trust is an Equal Opportunities employer and iscommitted to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. It expectsall staff to share this commitment. All posts require proof of identity and asthe role is working with children and young people this will also be subject toan enhanced disclosures barring service check. In line with safer recruitmentrequirements, individuals shortlisted for a role in school will have onlinechecks conducted on their name across social media platforms andgoogle.

Please refer to our Trust policies below for further detail.

Safer-Recruitment-SCR-and-Staff-files-policy.pdf

Safeguarding-and-Child-Protection-2026-2027

Closing date: 14th October

Interview date: To be confirmed week commencing 19thOctober

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation ofOffenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and2020.