Job Introduction
Job Title: Statutory School Exclusion Officer
Starting Salary: £38,220 progressing to £41,771 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 37 hours per week
Location: Stevenage (for training and team meetings) - with travel across Hertfordshire as required
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Chrildrens Services
About the team
We are looking for 2 Statutory School Exclusion Officers to join our dedicated team. This is not just a casework role; it is an opportunity to be a champion for vulnerable pupils. You will play a vital part in Hertfordshire’s 2026-31 Plan, ensuring no child is left behind.
You will be the bridge between schools and families, navigating the complexities of school exclusion and the Fair Access Protocol. You will challenge, support, and influence Head Teachers to help ensure that every young person has a path to success.
Are you ready to be the turning point for a child in crisis? We’re looking for someone who thrives under pressure, navigates complexity with ease, and possesses the relentless drive needed to secure the best results for Hertfordshire’s most vulnerable families.
High pressure. High stakes. High reward. If you’re a resilient problem-solver with a passion for supporting vulnerable children, join our dynamic team and help us turn challenging situations into positive outcomes
Can you work in a highly challenging, demanding, fast paced yet dynamic service? Do you have a tenacity and passion for supporting vulnerable children and families to ensure positive outcomes?
An opportunity has arisen for a Statutory School Exclusion Officer within the Statutory School Exclusion Team, which is part of the Education, Provision and Access service. Whilst the role is highly demanding, it is also rewarding and will allow you to contribute to Hertfordshire’s Plan for Children and Young People (2026-31) by improving outcomes for the families, young people and children of Hertfordshire.
About the role
The Statutory School Exclusion Officer will ensure the Local Authority meets its statutory responsibility for securing mainstream school places for those pupils who meet the threshold for the Hertfordshire Fair Access Protocol (FAP) and provide advice on all matters relating to school suspension and permanent exclusion.
Key tasks include:
- Ensuring robust scrutiny whilst also supporting and influencing Head Teachers and senior school staff in seeking alternatives to permanent exclusion and in securing school places, in line with the Team’s Key Performance Indicators.
- Negotiating and liaising with schools, Education Support Centres and other specialist services to secure support packages for pupils.
- Providing advice and guidance and to Head Teachers, parents, carers and school governors often in challenging circumstances.
- Chairing and minuting complex multi-agency Inclusion Panel meetings and seeking successful resolutions for vulnerable pupils.
- Leading on strategic conversations with Head Teachers and senior school staff in driving forward strategies to reduce permanent exclusion.
- Ensuring the LA’s safeguarding duties
About you
The following skills and experience are essential for this role. You will need to demonstrate these in your application statement:
Essential:
- Educated to A level and/or have significant relevant experience of working in a similar field.
- A strong commitment to the principle that every child has a right to education, with a genuine passion for supporting vulnerable pupils and families.
- Proven ability to work effectively in high‑pressure, high‑stakes environments, demonstrating resilience and sound professional judgement.
- Confidence to challenge, influence, and support senior school leaders constructively to secure positive outcomes for young people.
- Strong knowledge of and the ability to quickly develop expertise in, school exclusion processes, statutory guidance, and the Fair Access Protocol.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to manage sensitive and complex conversations with professionalism and empathy.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to manage complex casework and make defensible decisions.
- A collaborative approach, able to build productive working relationships with schools, families, and partner agencies.
- Experience of negotiating calmly and persuasively in emotionally charged or complex situations, achieving successful solutions through collaboration rather than conflict.
- Highly competent administrator, with proven experience and strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages, particularly Word and Excel, and the ability to maintain accurate records, reports, and data.
- Experience of working within education, local authority services, or inclusion/safeguarding roles.
- Demonstrated success in securing alternatives to exclusion and improving outcomes for vulnerable children.
- A creative, solutions‑focused mindset with a strong drive to deliver measurable impact.
- Experience of chairing and minuting complex multi-agency meetings.
- Proactive team player, able to seek support and be responsible for own development and learning.
- Ability to work autonomously when required, managing a complex caseload independently, prioritising effectively, and making sound decisions with minimal supervision.
- Current driving licence and access to a vehicle.
The successful candidate will be provided with an extensive induction programme which includes work shadowing and observation. There is a wide catalogue of training available.
If you have the tenacity, drive and resilience to seek solutions and improve outcomes for Hertfordshire's young people, we will welcome an application from you.
We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.
This job role is within the Community Services, level 10 job profile. Please locate this via:
Job profiles - Community services
For more information and an informal discussion about the role, please contact anjana.walia@hertfordshire.gov.uk or loraine.clancy@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Interview Date: 13th and 14th May 2026
How to apply
As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.
Additional information
Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.
English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.