Can you help out by being a Bristol school governor?

More than 100 people are needed to become school governors and play a part in the drive to raise standards in the city's schools.

Bristol City Council is looking to inject some fresh blood into school governing bodies around the city.

There are currently more than 1,600 governors working with Bristol schools. They work as part of a team managing the strategic direction of the school including overseeing budgets, recruitment issues and deciding school policy on everything from health and safety to bullying.

Councillor Clare Campion-Smith, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "School governors perform the most important voluntary role in education and a full, diverse governing body can be a source of enormous strength to a school."

Volunteering as a governor is seen as an excellent way to get involved in the community and ensure children receive the highest standard of education possible.

Working as a governor can also give people the opportunity to develop both personal and professional skills.

Bristol's Governance and Leadership Adviser, Ian Caskie, said: "Many people think they can't be a school governor because they don't have children.

"But a governor doesn't need to be a parent, or have any specific skills or experience of working within education. They need to have an interest in being involved in their community, be aged over 18 and able to commit to two to four meetings each term."

To mark the commitment of existing governors to the role, 16 governors, with 360 years' service between them, are due to receive long service awards at this week's annual governors' conference.

CYRIL Frain, 79, of Westbury-on-Trym, former director of nurse education at Frenchay Hospital, was asked to share his expertise with his children's school, Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary in Lawrence Weston, where he has been governor for 25 years.

He said: "One of the advantages of being retired is that you have plenty of time to devote to the school as a governor.

"But you don't need to be retired to be one. Anyone who can bring an area of expertise is welcome and those who are willing to give their time will be involved in various aspects of the school.

"I believe primary education is the most important aspect of education as it installs the basic principles of maths and science. If you get it right at that stage then it will set them up for life."

DAVID Langham, 63, of St George Park, a retired primary school teacher who has been a governor for 35 years at Summerhill infant and junior schools in St George.

He said: "My father was a governor and so was his father before him. When I was asked to become a governor I knew that it would give me another perspective of the education system other than that of teaching.

"It is a great way of giving back to the system and to serve your community. The governors have far more power now to effect change than they used to and each individual governor will have responsibility in different areas of the running of the school.

"I'd certainly encourage people to become school governors as it gives a great deal of satisfaction."

GRAHAM Blacker, 74, retired, has been a governor for 57 years at Ilminster Avenue and Connaught primary schools in Knowle West.

He said: "I was involved in a lot of voluntary work and I wanted to do something extra in my spare time.

"It is very enjoyable and a worthwhile use of time trying to improve the school and being a critical friend to the head teacher.

"One of the most important roles for a governor is to relate to the children and found out what they think.

"I was once recognised by a child in a supermarket who whispered to his mum that I was his school governor. It is very rewarding knowing that you're helping the school to progress."