A new campaign has been launched to recruit school governors in Suffolk - after it emerged there are 450 vacancies in the county.

The number of unfilled posts is 10% of Suffolk’s governing population.

But now Suffolk County Council is launching its Govern Suffolk Schools campaign.

It will focus on four governors currently working to give people a greater understanding of what the role involves.

Each governor offers a different set of skills and demonstrates the variety of ways someone can contribute to a school.

A governor takes part in strategic discussions, deciding the schools vision and ethos, determining school budgets and other similar tasks. They are required to act in the best interests of all the pupils of the school and behave in a professional manner.

They can make a positive contribution to a child’s life whilst developing their own personal and professional skills.

And being passionate about improving outcomes and opportunities for children and young people is paramount.

Emma Oddie, 39, a school governor from Sudbury, said: “I became a governor because I wanted to give something back to my community.

“I am able to use my strategic thinking and previous experience working in education and business to make a difference to my local school which is really rewarding.”

Cllr Gordon Jones, cabinet member for children’s services, education and skills said: “Becoming a school governor is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a team that can positively influence children’s lives.

“I was a school governor myself for many years and found the experience to be incredibly rewarding.

“The Govern Suffolk Schools campaign is really important with School Governors playing such a vital role in our education system.

“They provide strategic leadership and accountability and ensure the school is as good as it can be.

“We need more Suffolk residents to put their skills into our schools to continue driving up standards.”

To find out more visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/governsuffolk or search ‘Govern Suffolk Schools’.

To register your interest, call: 01473 263972 or email governance@suffolk.gov.uk