Attendance Officer

Leigh Academy Tonbridge has an exciting opportunity for an Attendance Officer to join our administration team from September 2024.

Our successful candidate will play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of attendance-related tasks within the academy alongside completing main office administration tasks. They will provide highly effective support to the School Office and the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to the overall efficiency of our educational environment.

While prior experience in a school office is preferred, it is not mandatory, as the ideal candidate will possess the adaptability to handle various administrative responsibilities inherent in this dynamic role.

The Attendance Officer will collaborate closely with the Senior Leadership Team, colleagues, the Local Authority, and the broader Trust, maintaining confidentiality and fostering a spirit of cooperation.

We are seeking a professional, personable individual dedicated to delivering exceptional service. Above all, the successful candidate will demonstrate a positive work ethic and a proactive approach. A passion for working in the education sector is highly valued, with previous experience in a school environment being advantageous.

If you share our enthusiasm for this opportunity, we invite you to apply!

Essential Skills:

• Excellent organisational and planning abilities
• Exceptional accuracy and attention to detail
• Demonstrated initiative and resourcefulness
• Proficiency in standard office and Google software applications
• Ability to work independently and take initiative
• Dedication and enthusiasm
• Excellent attendance and punctuality record

This is a permanent opportunity, working 37 hours per week, term time + 1 week of inset and offers an actual salary of £21,708 - £22,793 (£25,127 - £26,383 full-time equivalent), based on experience.

‘Behaviour and attitudes are exceptional’ Ofsted, 2022.

‘Staff are proud to work at the school. There is a strong culture of collaboration and sharing.’

The school’s small size means that all pupils are known, valued and nurtured.’ 

'Senior Leaders have a passionate and ambitious vision about providing high-quality education for all pupils at the school…senior leaders are relentless about raising standards and maintaining high expectations by keeping a high profile around the school.’ 

Joining us at Leigh Academy Tonbridge: Building on the strengths of our legacy school, Hayesbrook Academy, Leigh Academy Tonbridge will open our doors to the first cohort of year 7 students, including boys and girls, for September 2023.

Hayesbrook Academy first opened in 1964. Having always been an all-boys school, our history before then is closely linked to the old Sussex Road Boys School, where records go back to the early 1900’s, and so we have a strong tradition of education provision in Tonbridge. The modern day academy has always been an 11-18 comprehensive school with a mixed sixth form, serving the local community.

Since being the first school in West Kent to gain Academy Status in 2010, the academy led the way in achieving excellent standards and in creating a multi-academy Trust. We were graded ‘Excellent’ by Ofsted in 2005, 2008 and 2009. The academic success and high standards have continued and inspections in 2013, 2017 and most recently in December 2022, found the school to be ‘good’ overall but recognised students’ behaviour and attitudes as ‘exceptional’ (graded as ‘outstanding’). Furthermore, the inspection recognised strengths in reading and literacy; careers provision; teachers’ subject knowledge; the support provided by the trust and the governing body; as well as identifying the ‘meticulous’ arrangements for safeguarding. The report also recognised “Senior leaders are relentless about raising standards and maintaining high expectations…”.. Our press release and the full Ofsted report can be accessed here. 

The Academy grows, adapts and thrives with each new cohort of students that are welcomed here every September and our recent move to Leigh Academies Trust has strengthened the academy’s ability to deliver the very best for our pupils.

Being part of Leigh Academies Trust: As of 1st April 2024, our Trust comprises 32 geographically organised academies (16 secondaries, 14 primaries and 2 special) educating more than 20,000 students and employing 3,000 talented staff. Nearly 40% of our academies are judged outstanding overall by Ofsted, versus 15% nationally. The Trust is establishing four ‘clusters’ of academies: North Kent; Central Kent; South East London; Medway. In addition, the Trust is responsible for one of the region’s biggest initial teaching training organisations, a large teaching school hub and is an accredited apprenticeship provider. Our future plans are found in our Vision 2030 document available on our website.

As part of Leigh Academies Trust, you will have ample opportunity to collaborate with your peers both within the academy and across the whole Trust. This is an important part of our vision as we know through experience that we perform better when we work together. You are supported to undertake regular self-development to continue your professional development and hopefully progress further within the organisation.

Click here to view the benefits available to all LAT employees from day one.

Our commitment to safeguarding: Leigh Academies Trust and all of our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process across all academies and business units which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates - you can read more about this in our Recruitment Guidance. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

Our commitment to equality and diversity: As a Trust, we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals, we all bring something unique to the role regardless of any protected characteristics which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise. We are committed to providing equality and fairness throughout our recruitment and employment practices and not discriminating on any grounds.

Based on the quality and quantity of applications received, Leigh Academies Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy sooner than the specified closing date. Applicants will be notified of this where possible. Therefore, early applications are encouraged.