Student Engagement Coordinator

About the role

We are seeking to appoint a Student Engagement Coordinator with immediate effect. The successful applicant will report to the Assistant Headteacher (Behaviour and Standards) and will focus on providing support to students across Years 7-13. The role will involve liaison with parents, teachers and external agencies. We are looking for someone with excellent communication skills who can build positive relationships with pupils, staff, and parents and who can work effectively as part of a team.

The role of the Student Engagement Officer is to work with, and under the guidance of pastoral colleagues to ensure that every child achieves their learning potential by breaking down barriers to learning including behaviour. Supporting colleagues in helping ensure the above is an element of the role.

Main purpose

You will work within a team to undertake the responsibilities of managing behaviour for students’ effective learning. This will require significant intervention for those at risk of suspension or exclusion. These aspects will work in conjunction with pastoral responsibilities of support, care and guidance. Part of the role would also involve working with our pastoral colleagues to develop whole school initiatives that maintain and boost student behaviour.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Dealing with behaviour issues as they arise, re-engaging students with their learning as quickly as possible.
• Raising aspirations and standards for students who are disengaged, isolated, presenting challenging behaviour or who are at risk of suspension.
• Daily liaison with the Behaviour Team regarding pupils and daily compilation of work
• Supporting the coordination of behavioural issues that arise throughout the day
• Contact with parents as necessary
• Working with groups of pupils or mentoring individual pupils to improve progress and positive attitudes towards school
• Supporting the Pastoral system by undertaking other duties eg supervising the Isolation Room, mentoring activities etc
• Providing support for students and parents/carers at times of change and helping students to develop strategies to deal with the stress and impact these issues may have on their education.
• Taking part in any relevant meetings to assist with pupil welfare e.g. review meetings, parental meetings, reintegration meetings and attendance.
• Maintaining relevant student records and case files.
• Produce half-termly reports on isolation / suspension / detention and interventions and analysis of data within.
• Being very flexible in approach and adapting to suit the needs of the students

About the School

Townsend is a relatively small and very friendly school with a great atmosphere, circa 800 on roll, including a Sixth Form. Townsend is rated good in all areas by Ofsted, which was confirmed during a short inspection in January 2024. In May 2024 the SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist School) inspection report found that we continue to live up to our foundation as a Church school.

Townsend Church of England School is situated on a large, green site between St Albans and Harpenden, and welcomes applicants from families of all faiths and of no faith. Children who attend Townsend live in St Albans and Harpenden, as well as other towns in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, including Welwyn Garden City, Hemel Hempstead and Luton.

Townsend believes that educating the whole child is key to a successful education. The Bible-based vision of Love Your Neighbour underpins all we do. Students are taught to respect and care for themselves and each other, and Townsend’s supportive environment encourages them to make the most out of their journey through secondary school.

Although this is a Church School you do not have to adhere to the Christian faith to work here, but you must be in sympathy with our work and be able to support the aspects that give us our distinctive character as a Church of England School.

Friendly and welcoming, Townsend impresses with its calm learning environment and caring staff. Please read more about our school, including our 2024 Ofsted and SIAMS inspections on our website. You are more than welcome to have a tour of the school before applying.

We reserve the right to move to shortlisting and interviews when we have viable applications.

If you would like additional information or to discuss this vacancy - please email the school (recruitment@townsend.herts.sch.uk) for the attention of Mr Flack (Headteacher), or Mrs Llewellyn (Senior Deputy Headteacher), and we can either email a reply or telephone you if you leave a contact number.

To apply for this vacancy, please send a cover letter and an application form to Mr Flack, Headteacher, Townsend CofE School, High Oaks, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 6DR or email to recruitment@townsend.herts.sch.uk

Townsend Church of England School is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All post holders are subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS check), two satisfactory references, confirmation of identity, and qualifications.