Portsmouth school governor posts left unfilled despite campaign

In the wake of the Ofsted report published yesterday, Portsmouth City Council revealed there were 63 vacancies out of 542 governor posts. Of those unfilled the council has a responsibility to fill 39 places.

Ofsted praised a recruitment drive run last year and backed by The News, but said more could be done to make schools accountable. Alison Jeffery director of children’s services and education at the council added: ‘We welcome Ofsted’s report.

‘We want to play our part in helping all children in Portsmouth to achieve as well as they possibly can: they are the future of this city.’

Kevin Whittle, 35, has two children Sydney, 11, and Bayley, eight, who go to Stamshaw Junior School.

Last year he led protests when the school was due to become an academy, which has since happened.

But he said his concern was with the council, not with the academy chain.

He has since become a parent governor and is directly involved.

Mr Whittle said: ‘I make sure I get my voice heard and I say the things that happen in the school.

‘They try bypassing a few questions and I go back to them and get the truth. That’s my job as a parent governor.’