ROLE  Safeguarding & Attendance Officer

Salary Range: Grade E - £27,362

Location: The Heights Academy, Auckland Dr, Birmingham, B36 0DD

Contract: Full time, Permanent

Job Overview:

We are Forward Thinking, we are Ambitious, we are Principled, we are Motivated, we are Trustworthy and we are Nurturers of Talent!

An exciting opportunity has arisen for Safeguarding & Attendance Officer to join The Heights Academy.

Our new Academy will grow to educate up to 116 pupils aged 7-16 years 3- 11 with EHCP with a autism . The Heights Academy  is part of Forward Education Trust, a rapidly growing Multi Academy Trust established in 2017 serving special schools across the West Midlands (Birmingham, Solihull and Sandwell).  

As Safeguarding & Attendance Officer, you will lead and manage attendance, safeguarding, and welfare, ensuring robust systems that keep children safe, support families, and ensure full compliance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and all statutory duties.

 Your considerable skill as an outstanding practitioner who has experience of working with children with special needs. Your commitment to engaging and inspiring our pupils, and the ability to make a real difference to their learning and general well-being. Your flexibility, commitment, and excellent interpersonal skills. 

All applications:  All Applicants In line with our commitment to safeguarding will be subject to enhanced DBS disclosure, proof of the right to work in the UK, satisfactory references from at least your last two employers, evidence of required qualifications and medical clearance. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applicants. Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage and civil partnerships.   

Competitive Benefits:

Forward Education Trust is committed to recruiting and retaining the highest quality staff. To do this, we have an Employee Value Proposition offering a range of benefits to help our staff on a personal and professional level, which includes:

·       Teacher Pension or Support Staff Local Government Pension – Employer Contribution

·       FET HUB – information all in one place, access to a range of benefits

·       Paid for Health Cash Plan – employee and dependent children benefit – option to add partner

·       Employee Questionnaire – Consultation with staff on a range of issues and ideas

·       Comprehensive induction and probation support and an ongoing performance management & appraisal system

·       Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme – free, totally confidential advice, with face-to-face consultations

·       Personal & professional learning & development – including FLICK online learning and other resources

·       Access to discounts and offers from Reward Gateway and My Perks

·       Occupational Health Service – accessible to support the needs of individual staff

·       Staff recognition – e-cards to celebrate success among colleagues

·       Mental Health First Aiders

·       Policies are developed and reviewed to support positive health & well-being: Family Friendly Working, Special Leave of Absence, Flexible Working, Menopause

·       Our well-being support focuses on managing accountability, workload, and emotional intelligence through professional supervision, peer mentoring, and a supportive organisational culture

·       Staff recognition – awards throughout the year, in line with Trust behaviours and values

·       A commitment to develop new ideas to show we really value what you do for our children

Closing Date for Applications: Friday, 24 April 2026

Interview Date: TBC

The Trust may review applications upon receipt and may call applicants for interview prior to the advert closing date.  Therefore, you are encouraged to make an early application for this role, and we reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date. 

Please note that only fully completed Forward Education Trust Application forms will be accepted; we will not read accompanying Curriculum Vitae (CV) or accept them in place of an application form. 

If you do not hear from the school within 14 days of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been shortlisted. The successful applicants will require an enhanced DBS check and will be subject to relevant pre-employment checks. 

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. 

This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent spoken English is an essential requirement for this role. 

An online search will also be carried out for all shortlisted candidates.

Forward Education Trust is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate must promote this ethos.

The successful candidate will be subject to all necessary pre-employment checks, including enhanced DBS; Prohibition check; Childcare Disqualification; qualifications, medical fitness; identity and right to work and two references.