Senior Principal

Salary L21 - L27 £84,699 - £98,105

Location Devon

This is a Permanent, Full Time vacancy that will close in {x} days at {xx:xx} BST.

The Vacancy

Relocation package or support will be offered where required

Expected Start date - September 2026

Wave Multi Academy Trust is seeking an exceptional and values-driven Senior Principal to provide strategic oversight and strong operational leadership across our Devon regional Alternative Provision academies. This is a senior role, leading and supporting academy leaders to ensure that every child and young person, particularly our most vulnerable, benefits from high-quality education, inclusive practice and outstanding safeguarding within a safe, ambitious and nurturing environment.

Reporting to the Executive Team, the Senior Principal will play a key role in strengthening leadership capacity, driving school improvement and ensuring alignment with Trust priorities, statutory responsibilities and local authority requirements. Working closely with Regional Academy Leads, governance hubs and external partners, the postholder will combine strategic vision with hands-on leadership, stepping in where required to stabilise provision, manage risk and secure sustained improvement.

This role offers a rare opportunity to shape system-wide improvement, influence Trust strategy and make a profound difference to the life chances of children and young people across Devon.

For a full list of duties, please see the job description below.

Wave is dedicated to the safeguarding of children and Safer Recruitment Procedures will be followed. The position requires a satisfactory enhanced DBS check and online check.

We may close this vacancy early as we review applications as they are received, to ensure you are considered for this role please do not wait for the deadline to submit your application.

Wave Trust: What we believe and what we do

Who We Are

Wave are 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.

We provide education for vulnerable pupils aged 4 – 19 across Devon and Cornwall. 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.

We Aim To

Provide 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.
Give access to the National Curriculum; provide opportunities for external accreditation, and, for those pupils with specific learning difficulties, effective and personalised programmes.
Ensure all pupils are supported to develop positive attitudes towards themselves and others. Promoting emotional well-being and self-esteem; helping our pupils to recognise their potential and work positively within their community.
We will respect all pupils and encourage them to become active participants in their own learning, develop confidence, independence, self-esteem and express their needs and desires.
Seek effective and positive working relationships with pupils’ families, schools and other agencies.
Enable effective outcomes for our pupils.

The Benefits

Health &
Wellbeing

Pension

Training &
Development

Employee Assistance
Programme

Cycle to
Work Scheme

Free
Parking

Pension Scheme
Employee Assistance Programme
Counselling
Occupational Health Services
Professional Development & Training
Salary depending on experience
Cycle to Work Scheme
Tech Scheme
Free Will Writing Benefit
Health & Wellbeing Champion
Company sick pay dependent on service
Free refreshments in workplaces

Our Values

Evidence shows that the values we embody empower young people to succeed; these are the values we are looking for when we recruit new staff or work with new stakeholders.

BE POSITIVE

We value positivity, no matter what the circumstances. It is our intention to stay constructive, optimistic and confident both for and with our young people and their families.

HAVE EMPATHY

We are kind, we have empathy. We consider the consequences of our decisions, large and small on those around us.

SHOW RESPECT

We conduct ourselves in ways that earn the trust of those around us. We respect each other and those we work with.

WORK AS ONE TEAM

We depend on teamwork and the relationships we have. When we work together we are stronger. Together we will achieve more.

BE INCLUSIVE

Everybody is treated fairly and equally; no-one is marginalised or left behind. We are inclusive, we embrace the human spirit. We value diversity of people and thought.