Schools minister Estelle Morris said around 5 per cent of governors come from ethnic minorities - but that more were needed to help raise standards and ensure schools are accountable to their local communities.

One solution, she suggested, could be to expand the role of “one-stop shops” which are to be launched in the autumn - a move backed by the Select Committee this week.

The shops allow potential governors to sign up at information points at work or in supermarkets, but until now, had been intended to improve the recruitment of business governors in inner cities. Ms Morris said their remit could be reviewed, once they are up and running.

“When we launch one-stop shops, we want to make sure that ethnic minority governors are included because they are a huge part of the business community in the UK,” she added.