Parental Engagement Officer – Role Summary

Wixams Academy is a thriving comprehensive Academy serving around 950 pupils (including 120 Sixth Form students) as of September 2023. Since opening in 2017 with just 80 pupils, we continue to grow each year, with a vision to reach 1,750 students and 200 staff by 2030 📈

We are currently working with Bedford Borough Council and the Department for Education to expand our capacity to meet this growth. The Academy remains consistently popular, oversubscribed, and proud of its low staff turnover. Located just one mile south of Bedford town centre, we serve a mixed community with a broadly national demographic.

🌟 About the Role

As a Parental Engagement Officer, you will play a key part in ensuring pupils are safe, supported, and able to thrive. You will:

🤝 Build strong, trusted relationships with parents/carers, including those who may be anxious or disengaged.
🏠 Conduct home visits to identify barriers and provide tailored family support.
📉 Improve attendance & engagement through personalised plans and proactive communication.
👥 Work closely with school staff and external agencies to coordinate family‑centred interventions.
🛟 Support families through school transitions, reintegration, and periods of challenge.
🗂️ Maintain accurate, confidential records aligned with safeguarding and GDPR requirements.
🛡️ Champion safeguarding, using professional curiosity and timely reporting to the DSL.

This is a visible, outreach‑focused role requiring empathy, resilience, excellent communication skills, and a solutions‑focused mindset.

Who We’re Looking For

Someone who is:
💛 Warm, empathetic and able to build trust
🗣️ A strong communicator with families, staff and agencies
🔍 Proactive and able to problem‑solve
📚 Passionate about improving children’s life chances
⏱️ Organised, reliable and able to multitask under pressure

✅ Our Commitment to Safeguarding & Inclusion

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment checks including:
🔒 Enhanced DBS clearance
📚 Prohibition from Teaching Checks
📘 Section 128 Direction Check (where applicable)

KST is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We are an equal opportunities employer and warmly welcome all applications 

For full details, see attached JD.