Attendance & Education Welfare Officer – Manchester

A forward-thinking 1116 secondary school in Manchester is seeking a proactive and compassionate Attendance & Education Welfare Officer to join its pastoral and safeguarding team. The school serves a diverse urban community and is known for its structured behaviour systems strong pastoral leadership and clear expectations around attendance and punctuality.

Attendance is a whole-school priority and this role is central to ensuring students are supported effectively to overcome barriers to regular school attendance.

The Role

Working closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead Heads of Year and senior leadership team you will monitor track and improve student attendance across all year groups.

Your responsibilities will include:

Monitoring daily attendance and identifying patterns of absence
Conducting first-day response calls and follow-up communications
Working directly with families to address persistent absence
Coordinating attendance panels and formal meetings
Liaising with external agencies where appropriate
Maintaining accurate attendance data using the schools MIS system
Supporting safeguarding procedures linked to attendance concerns

You will play a key role in balancing firm expectations with empathetic support for families.

The School Environment

This Manchester secondary school has invested significantly in its pastoral infrastructure. Year teams are well-staffed behaviour systems are consistent and attendance improvement strategies are embedded within school improvement planning.

The pastoral office is structured and collaborative with weekly safeguarding meetings and clear escalation procedures. Senior leaders are visible and supportive ensuring attendance staff feel empowered and valued.

The school has strong community partnerships and works closely with local services to support vulnerable families.

Who Were Looking For

The successful candidate will:

Have experience in attendance safeguarding or education welfare
Be confident managing difficult conversations with professionalism
Understand statutory attendance guidance and safeguarding procedures
Be highly organised with strong data management skills
Demonstrate resilience empathy and excellent communication

Experience within a secondary school setting is highly desirable.

Whats On Offer

A structured and well-led pastoral system
Strong safeguarding culture with clear processes
Ongoing professional development opportunities
A key role within a respected Manchester secondary school
The opportunity to make a direct impact on student outcomes

This is a rewarding opportunity for a dedicated Attendance & Education Welfare professional who wants to contribute meaningfully to improving life chances for young people.