YOUR School Needs You! City education boss Richard Harris has teamed up with the Daily Echo in an appeal to mums and dads to pitch in and help run the city's schools.

Southampton's schools are creaking under the pressure of a 22 per cent shortage of governors - the vital volunteers who make key decisions on a school's future.

The education chief has re-enacted the famous First World War recruiting poster featuring Lord Kitchener, this time in a call to action on the front line of Southampton's schools.

Five schools in the city are missing up to half the board of governors and another 80 have shortages.

Just three schools in Southampton can boast a full complement of governors and the shortage is more than ten per cent above the national average.

In total, just under 300 new governors are needed to get Southampton up to full strength - and we want the Daily Echo's army of readers to step in and save the day.

Cllr Harris said: "I was a governor for 20 years. From my own experience I realise the value and the importance governors play in the life of a school.

"I would encourage people to come forward and volunteer. Not only do governors gain a lot from the role but you are also helping ensure the city's children receive the best education which can be provided."

Head teachers look after the day-to-day running of a school. But the long-term is handled by governors, who not only hire head teachers but are vital for the future direction of the school.

Being a governor takes just a few hours a week but makes a valuable contribution to the community.

"Schools can't run without them," said Southampton's governor services officer Glenda Lane, who has kept an anxious eye on the spiralling vacancy rate.

"I have been with the authority for six years and the situation has never been wonderful but it has been gradually creeping up.

"We haven't done an exit poll to try to establish hard evidence of what it is that makes people leave. I think in some situations it is that people do their four years and then their children move on and they don't want to stay involved. I also suspect some find the commitment too much. They need to commit to evening meetings, background reading and to get into school in the daytime."

But she says there are good reasons for getting involved.

"I think it is a most rewarding and challenging way of getting a true insight into what education is all about and the challenges faced by schools. It also allows parents to get a greater understanding of how the jigsaw pieces fit together."

To offer your services and help ease the great governor shortage, contact the city council's Governor Services on 023 8083 3471/2.

For more information contact the School Governors' OneStop Shop on 0870 241 3883, email info@schoolgovernorsoss.co.uk or log on to the website www.schoolgovernorsoss.co.uk

We should all be responsible

MUM-of-two Jane Marker, 51, juggles her daytime administration job at Mansbridge Primary School with her role as chairwoman of governors at Bitterne Park Secondary School.

A governor for nine years and chairwoman for three, she believes the position is as important as ever.

"I took it up because my daughters were both at the school and I wanted to get involved," she said.

Now both children have left and Jane is as involved as ever.

She said: "Now I like what the school is doing and I want to stay involved. I think it's a hard-working school with go-ahead ideas and it is fun to be part of it. You also get an understanding of the school and the way it works."

She is keen to see more people follow her example.

Jane said: "I would say to people 'Come along and have a look. Ask the school you are interested in getting involved with to let you come to a meeting'.

"It is a whole community involvement. It is not just if you're children go to a school. We all have opinions and we should all be responsible for what goes on locally.

"It is one of the most democratic processes there is. You have representatives from all areas - the whole community is represented in one way or another."