ESSEX is suffering from a shortage of people wanting to act as school governors, Colchester’s MP has discovered.

There are 86 vacancies waiting to be filled in the town, said Bob Russell, who uncovered the information after lodging a written parliamentary question.

He said that figure breaks down to 52 governors needed for primary schools in Colchester, 22 at junior level and 12 at secondary schools.

He said across Essex the total number of gaps on school governing bodies is 640 – 418 at primary, 115 at junior and 107 at secondary level.

Liberal Democrat Mr Russell said he thinks the reason for the lack of school governors could be people fearing that it will take up a lot of their time.

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