MAT Recruitment is supporting the appointment of an Attendance Officer to work within a Blackburn-based education setting. This is a key pastoral and operational role focused on improving pupil attendance, punctuality, and engagement, particularly for pupils at risk of persistent absence.

This role would suit someone experienced in attendance, pastoral support, family liaison, or inclusion work, with the confidence to work directly with pupils, families, and external agencies.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Promote and uphold policies relating to attendance, punctuality, and learning
• Challenge and improve pupil attendance in line with agreed policies and procedures
• Work proactively and constructively with parents/carers to address attendance concerns
• Undertake regular home visits for targeted pupils
• Maintain a visible, high-profile presence around the site to address lateness and truancy
• Monitor, track, and improve attendance for targeted cohorts of pupils
• Identify patterns, trends, and barriers to attendance and report findings and impact to senior leaders
• Raise participation across all pupil groups, with a particular focus on those at risk of persistent absence
• Implement and review a range of strategies to improve attendance and punctuality
• Build and maintain effective, professional relationships with pupils, parents/carers, and colleagues
• Liaise with parents/carers regarding unauthorised absence and ensure understanding of potential consequences
• Act as a link between families and the school where mitigating circumstances are identified
• Communicate effectively with parents/carers and relevant external agencies
• Coordinate systems for tracking, monitoring, and analysing attendance data
• Ensure sustained improvements in attendance over time
• Monitor the use of electronic registration systems and ensure full compliance
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date attendance and punctuality records
• Monitor and follow up on missing or incomplete registers
• Provide accurate attendance and punctuality data to leadership and relevant teams

Essential skills, qualifications and experience

Qualifications

• GCSE English at grade A–C / 4+ (or equivalent)
• Minimum Level 4 qualification (A Level, HND, NVQ4 or equivalent) or demonstrable significant experience in a relevant field
• Literacy and numeracy at Level 2 or above
• Evidence of relevant CPD activity
• Experience using Arbor systems preferred

Experience and skills

• Significant experience working with young people and their families
• Experience supporting pupils who face barriers to learning due to personal, social, or emotional needs
• Proven ability to positively impact pupil engagement and attitudes to learning
• Experience working collaboratively with colleagues and external agencies
• Strong understanding of attendance processes and safeguarding responsibilities
• High level of competence using IT systems, databases, and data analysis tools
• Experience using school-based systems such as SIMS (or similar)
• Strong working knowledge of health and safety requirements
• Awareness of multi-academy trust environments

Additional information

• This role is subject to enhanced safeguarding and employment checks
• The role involves direct work with families and may include home visits

Safeguarding & safer recruitment

MAT Recruitment and our partner schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

All appointments are subject to:

• Enhanced DBS (including barred list check)
• Identity and Right to Work verification
• Two satisfactory references confirming suitability to work with children
• Verification of qualifications
• Online searches for shortlisted candidates as part of our safer recruitment process (KCSIE 2025)
• Clarification of any employment gaps

This recruitment process is carried out in accordance with MAT Recruitment Ltd's Safer Recruitment Policy, the REC Education Audit Framework (Placement 2020) and Keeping Safe in Education (2025).