With an expanding role for local authorities in education, it’s becoming increasingly important that effective relationships are built between trusts and local authorities to ensure that together, the best possible education is offered to children and young people across the locality. In this case study, we talk to Marc Doyle, CEO of Quest Trust, to learn more about the approach they’ve taken to build these effective relationships, how barriers have been overcome, and what the future looks like for the work together moving forward.
Can you tell us a little bit about Quest Trust including the geographical areas of the schools and anything else you feel is important to know about the localities you serve?
Quest Trust is a five-school multi-academy trust that serves nearly 2,000 children across Wigan and Bolton in the North West of England. The trust’s diverse structure includes one secondary school—a University Technical College (UTC) based in Bolton—alongside four primary schools located in Wigan, three of which are Church of England schools. As a diocesan trust, Quest Trust operates within the Church of England framework but remains distinctive in its composition, as two of its schools are community schools rather than faith-based institutions.
Situated on the edges of Greater Manchester, Quest Trust is deeply aligned with the missions of both Wigan and Bolton local authorities, which emphasise helping children achieve and build their futures within their local communities. Reflecting this, the trust has a strong focus on providing an educational journey from early years through to employment. Its all-through structure, spanning nursery provision to post-16 education, uniquely positions Quest to support young people at every stage of their learning journey. The presence of a University Technical College within the trust further strengthens this commitment, offering a clear and distinctive pathway from education into the world of work.
Can you describe the state of the relationship between the trust and the LAs when you first became CEO?
When I took on the role of CEO in July 2023, the relationship between Quest Trust and the local authorities in Wigan and Bolton was, quite frankly, not in a great place. The school in Bolton was in special measures, following its Ofsted inspection in December 2022. One of the key concerns at that time was that the school had held the local authority at arm’s length, limiting external support and intervention.
This dynamic wasn’t unique to Bolton. In Wigan, the local authority had similar concerns about the trust’s lack of engagement. They could see areas where they believed they could offer meaningful support, but the doors remained firmly closed. There was a sense of isolation within the trust’s schools, with a reluctance to invite external scrutiny or assistance. When I stepped into the role, I inherited a trust that was quite insular, operating in a way that had distanced itself from key local stakeholders.
