Wave is an established and successful Multi Academy Trust, comprising of Alternative Provision Academies (APAs), Medical Academies (including Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s child and adolescent mental health unit ‘Sowenna’) and a Special Academy, that provides education for vulnerable pupils aged 4 – 19 across Devon and Cornwall. Wave's vision is to significantly change pupil’s lives for the better.

Wave's academies provide alternative and special education for pupils who are designated as disengaged, pupils unable to attend school due to medical reasons, and pupils with social interaction and communication needs including those on the Autism Spectrum and Speech, Language and Communication Needs. The Trust has a national reputation for the delivery of outstanding pupil outcomes including enabling pupils to access the most appropriate education setting and transition to employment, training and higher or further education. The Trust educates over 1000 pupils and employs over 350 members of staff.

The Trust provides a balanced and broad curriculum that promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life. Each Wave academy gives access to the National Curriculum; provide opportunities for external accreditation, and, for those pupils with specific learning difficulties, effective and personalised programmes. It ensures that all pupils are supported to develop positive attitudes towards themselves and others, promoting emotional well-being and self-esteem, and helping Wave pupils to recognise their potential and work positively within their community.

Academies are both charities and companies limited by guarantee. Academy Trustees are therefore both charity Trustees and corporate directors and must comply with company and charity law. This includes the academy registering trustees with Companies House as a director.

Trustees provide a strategic view for Wave Academies, acting as a critical friend and ensuring accountability. In order to perform this role well, a Trustee is expected to:

• Get to know Wave academies, by visiting an Academy occasionally during Academy hours, and gain a good understanding of the Academy’s needs, strengths and areas for development
• Attend regular relevant training and development events
• Attend meetings (Board and committee meetings) and read all the papers before the meeting
• Act in the best interest of all the pupils of the Trust
• Behave in a professional manner, as set down in the Governing Body code of conduct, including acting in strict confidence
• Speak, act and vote in the best interests of the Trust
• Represent the Trust within the local community
  
• Represent the local community on the Trust Board
• Act within the framework of the policies of the Trust and associated legal requirements, adhering to the model of governance as detailed in the Articles of Association

The role of Trustee is largely a thinking and questioning role, not a doing role. As the successful candidate becomes more experienced as a Trustee, there are other roles they could volunteer for which would increase their degree of involvement and level of responsibility (e.g. as a Chair of a committee).

Wave MAT seeks a new Trustee to join its Board, who will bring senior-level financial experience. This individual will share the Trust's ethos and values, striving for excellence by putting the learner first.

The successful candidate will bring strong financial acumen. They may be a qualified accountant or audit professional, but could equally have held a strategic-level financial leadership position, such as CFO or Financial Director, for a commercial or not-for-profit organisation. Equally, applicants could come from an investment background, including M&A, private equity, venture capital, etc. Previous Board experience would be beneficial, but Wave Multi Academy Trust welcomes applications from first-time Board members.

Above all, candidates will be passionate about children and children's education, and will be aligned with Wave's mission to support its pupils to develop into confident, happy, successful young adults who have empathy towards and an understanding of those less fortunate than themselves.

You can read more about the Board here. 

There are at least six meetings of the MAT Board per year, however time commitment may increase from that should a Trustee sit on a committee focused on an area they have knowledge of, or are particularly interested in; for example, the Finance and Audit Committee. The time commitment may also increase should a Trustee be required to sit on a hearing / disciplinary panel. Trustees will also be expected to undertake any training required to enable them to discharge their role effectively. This role is unremunerated, but reasonable, pre-agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Wave is dedicated to the safeguarding of children and Safer Recruitment Procedures will be followed. The position requires a satisfactory enhanced DBS check and the Trust may carry out an online check, alongside the usual reference process.

Board meetings take place in person at one of the Academies in Devon or Cornwall where possible; hybrid attendance is available. Candidates can be based anywhere in the UK, so long as they are willing to travel for meetings.

Wave Multi Academy Trust welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. As women and those from an ethnic minority background are currently under-represented on the Board, applications from those candidates would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process.