Our collective determination to make Oakbank a happier and higher performing school affirms our commitment to our values: integrity, collaboration and excellence. We believe in excellence for our students to give them the opportunities to have choices in their lives, empowering them to choose the future that they desire off the back of hard work. We believe in working together to ensure that our community supports one another and challenges one another to be the ‘best yet’ versions of ourselves, not because we have to improve but because if we do, the potential is endless. And we believe in the fidelity of our vision for students and staff, and strive to retain our moral compass when making decisions, to ensure an open, inclusive and happy community at Oakbank.

Oakbank is a school of potential that drives for the betterment for all. The school is committed to a journey of transformation, where staff, students and parents are committed to improving the quality and experience of education for its community. We believe that every child deserves to not only access the full curriculum, but should thrive in their curriculums, developing academically, personally and holistically as a result of passionate and adaptive teaching, resulting in committed learning that secures successful outcomes. Our current phase of school improvement features our entire team, working together at pace to offer greater stability, more innovation and creativity. The aim is for greater consistency for all students, enabling them to manage their learning and themselves more effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities

To monitor and report on whole-school attendance data, analysing data to identify key areas of concern. To work closely with pupils, staff, parents, and carers to reduce levels of absence, and act appropriately when persistent absence becomes a safeguarding issue. Additionally, to manage the admissions process, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and school policies.

Attendance Administration

• Ensure daily attendance registers are accurate and complete, and follow up with staff members about any incomplete data.
• Follow up on any unexplained absences with parents/carers, escalating issues as appropriate in line with school procedures.
• Initiate and oversee the administration of absence procedures, for example, letters home, attendance clinics, and engagement with local authorities/other external agencies and partners.
• Manage attendance returns for the school census.
• Manage the process of issuing penalty notices to parents.
• Maintain accurate records of communications with parents/carers and relevant interventions.
• Build and refresh knowledge of the school’s MIS and other relevant systems.

Admissions Administration

• Manage the admissions process in accordance with statutory requirements and school policies.
• Handle all enquiries from prospective parents, providing information about the school and arranging visits.
• Process applications, maintaining accurate records and ensuring timely communication with applicants.
• Coordinate with local authorities and other schools to manage pupil transfers.
• Organise and attend open days and other events aimed at prospective pupils and parents.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Produce and interpret attendance reports for school leaders, identifying key statistics, reasons for absence, and any patterns of concern.
• Track attendance of vulnerable groups of pupils and share information with school leaders.
• Identify pupils that need additional support to improve their attendance.
• Work with school leaders to identify appropriate interventions to improve attendance for particular groups or individual pupils.
• Lead daily or weekly check-ins to review progress and the impact of support/interventions.
• Provide regular reports to attendance organisations to raise awareness of emerging at-risk pupils.

Working with Parents/Carers

• Coordinate meetings with pupils and parents/carers to implement interventions and track progress.
• Build positive relations with parents/carers to encourage family involvement in their child’s attendance.
• Identify, and where possible, mitigate potential barriers to attendance in partnership with families.
• Carry out home visits, where necessary, to address attendance concerns for individual pupils.

Professional Development

• Take opportunities to build the appropriate skills, qualifications, and/or experience needed for the role, with support from the school.
• Take part in the school’s appraisal procedures.

Other Areas of Responsibility

Safeguarding

• Work in line with statutory safeguarding guidance (e.g., Keeping Children Safe in Education, Prevent) and our safeguarding and child protection policies.
• Be alert to when persistent absence becomes a safeguarding concern and early help may be required.
• Work with the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) to promote the best interests of pupils, including sharing concerns where necessary.
• Promote the safeguarding of all pupils in the school.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

• GCSE or equivalent level, including at least a Grade C in English and Maths.

Experience

• Experience working in a school environment or other educational setting.
• Experience identifying interventions to raise attendance of pupils.
• Experience working directly with pupils and parents.
• Experience working collaboratively with colleagues.
• Experience analysing data and producing reports and identifying key insights.

Skills and Knowledge

• Good listening skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of the possible interventions to raise attendance.
• Knowledge of the potential barriers to high attendance that pupils may face.
• Ability to tailor interventions to individual pupils.
• Ability to use IT systems and to conduct analysis and produce reports.
• Good knowledge of Excel.
• Ability to create good relationships with pupils, staff, and parents.

Personal Qualities

• Willingness to provide the best possible opportunities for all pupils.
• Organised, proactive, and self-motivated.
• Good time management skills.
• Commitment to upholding and promoting the ethos and values of the school.
• Ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Committed to safeguarding, equality, diversity, and inclusion.

The school reserve the right to appoint before the application deadline.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and require all staff and volunteers to share and demonstrate this commitment. The successful candidate will have to meet the requirements of the person specification and will be subject to the relevant pre-employment checks which will, where applicable, include a health check, an enhanced DBS check, the Children’s Barred List check and satisfactory references.

It is an offence for an individual who has been disqualified from working with children to knowingly apply for, offer to do, accept, or do any work in a ‘regulated activity’. The position advertised is a ‘regulated activity’.

Please note that we reserve the right to close the recruitment campaign earlier that this date subject to the volume of applications received.  We therefore encourage candidates to submit applications as early as possible.

These duties and responsibilities should be regarded as neither exhaustive nor exclusive as the post holder may be required to undertake other reasonably determined duties and responsibilities commensurate with the grading of the post.

This job description will be supported by the school improvement plan which will identify key distinct tasks and responsibilities for this role in the school year. These will be derived from ongoing school self-evaluation and other local/national priorities. The postholder’s duties must be carried out in compliance with the school’s policies and procedures including child protection and safeguarding procedures.