Welcome to our Governors section. 

Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.

Coppice governing body has a range of duties, powers and a general responsibility for the conduct of the school, with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement. This includes setting targets for pupil achievement, managing the school's finances, making sure the curriculum is balanced and broadly based, appointing staff and reviewing staff performance and pay. The governing body also provides support for the day to day running of the school.

Ofsted 2015 said: "Governors are extremely supportive and rigorously challenge leaders to improve the school. They have an excellent understanding of the school’s strengths and their role in developing these further. They are highly aspirational for the school and committed to driving even higher standards."

Coppice Governing Body has taken the decision to create two committees to allow greater focus where needed as follows:

• Finance and Personnel - This committee oversees all school's finance including; budget setting, and spending on large projects. The Finance and Personnel committee also takes an active role in personnel matters that range from hiring and promotions to disciplinary procedures.
• Curriculum - The Curriculum committee focuses on how the curriculum is delivered across the school, ensuring that Coppice maintains its high level of educational excellence and provides a broad and balanced curriculum that motivates and interests the children by being relevant to their needs. They are also responsible for the many extra curricular and residential visits that the children undertake.

Structural maintenance of the building, school grounds and lettings are the responsibility of both schools.

The governing body welcomes all comments. If you wish to contact the governing body please do so either by writing to 'The Chair of the Coppice Governing Body' at the school address, or via the school email (please mark your email for the attention for The Chair of the Coppice Governing Body).

Governor Profiles

Tony Goddard - Co-opted Governor and Chair of Governing Board

I became a governor in 2002 when my children were in Years 1 and 2.  I have remained a governor since then, moving from being a Parent Governor to Community Governor and now Co-opted Governor.  I currently act as Chair of the Governing Board.  I retired from my day job in 2021.  I was Pensions Manager for a manufacturing company based in Burton on Trent.  I am married with two daughters and my interests include music, reading (especially sci-fi) and motor sport.

I am also involved with the Sutton Coldfield u3a, where I act as deputy membership secretary and I am a Trustee of a pension scheme for a previous employer.

I believe that there is nothing more important than our children’s education and I am pleased to be able to help and support Coppice to make this as best as I can. It is important that our children enjoy their education and become ‘lifelong learners’. (Updated March 2024)

Margaret Barnfield - Local Education Authority Governor

I have lived in Birmingham since 1978 when I came to work here as a Primary School teacher. Since then, I worked in several schools, with increasing responsibility as a Deputy and Head Teacher.  

I retired in 2011.  I was appointed as a Governor for Coppice Primary School by the Local Education Authority in October 2012.

Since my appointment as a Governor, I have worked hard to use my experience to support the school.  I am a member of the Finance and Personnel sub committee and attend full Governing Board meetings to further my understanding and provide support and challenge.

For many years I have volunteered in school for one morning a week and have worked in several year groups from Years 1–4.  This experience does not only help the children and the teachers but also helps to broaden my awareness of how the school operates. Outside education my interests include music, reading, walking and travel.  (Updated March 2024)

Ben Guest – Foundation Governor/Vice Chair

I have been a Governor since 2019 and was appointed as Vice Chair in 2022. All three of my children have been to/are at Coppice. My younger two are in Year 1 and Year 4, whilst my eldest left in 2023 to go to Arthur Terry. My wife is a teacher at the school and my two younger siblings also went to Coppice. Therefore, it is very close to my heart.

I am a Chartered Accountant and I currently work as a Finance Director at the RAC, responsible for Finance, Tax, Treasury and Procurement.

I am a (very) active member of the Finance and Personnel Sub-Committee and Vice Chair of the Governing Board, providing support and challenge to the Chair, fellow Governors and of course the school.

On a personal level, I have lived in Sutton Coldfield all of my life and outside of work I enjoy running, watching sport and spending time with my family. I also mentor two students (one A-Level, one Undergraduate) as part of the 1MM organisation.  (Updated Feb 2024)

Simon Bowen - Foundation Governor

I was elected as a parent governor in October 2012. I have two children at Coppice. I am an accountant and currently work in Birmingham for a multinational company. My current role at work gives me responsibility for dealing with sub contractors who supply food services, IT, and facilities management. I also have responsibility for Health and Safety and Environmental matters. Additionally I manage internal finance functions alongside procurement and stores. I use this experience in my governor roles on the finance and personnel committee and the joint site committee. My interests include music, reading, NFL and motor racing. I run, cycle and play golf. I am also an occasional Cub Scout leader in Great Barr.

Mrs Rachel Passey – Co-opted Governor 

SEN & Safeguarding Governor

I am the SEN and Safeguarding Governor and committed to ensuring our children feel safe and positive about their mental well being.

I very much enjoy being part of the Governing Board to support, input and challenge the leadership team. I also chair the Curriculum Committee where we work together to ensure the curriculum continues to progress and be stimulating for children of all abilities.

My business experience is varied, including working in management consulting and currently at Severn Trent in transformation. My roles have covered aspects of finance, HR, procurement, process improvements and change management and I aim to bring these insights to the Governing Board.

Some of my most rewarding experiences have been when I have undertaken work with communities including a one-year voluntary placement as a management advisor to a hospital in Indonesia and supporting school PTFA activities and fundraising.

I enjoy keeping active with my family and spending time exercising outdoors together.   (Updated Feb 2024)

Jacob Rickett - Co-opted Governor

I was appointed as a Co-opted Governor in 2014.  I am an experienced lawyer and have advised across the public, private, sports and education sectors on a wide range of regulatory, commercial, governance and compliance matters.  I have previously been the Deputy Monitoring Office at the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, was the Head of Legal and Compliance at Birmingham City University and worked in-house at the Environment Agency.

I have experience in prosecuting professional misconduct and Fitness to Practice cases advising in relation to complaints, discipline, professional misconduct and academic misconduct matters.  This included advising and prosecuting cases involving teachers and within the education sector.

I now work as the General Counsel for Football Co, the world's largest dedicated football content and media business advising on a wide range of legal issues across the global group.  (Updated April 2024)

Lindsay Taylor – Parent Governor

I am a Parent Governor who has one son at Coppice. My eldest son is a former pupil. I believe that Coppice is a special school which nurtures and develops our children academically whilst supporting them to become independent and confident to seize opportunities. My role as a Governor is to help support the school to grow and develop that unique learning environment. The Governors also play an important role in ensuring that the school's leadership is subject to appropriate levels of check and challenge. I enjoy working with others to ensure that all children at Coppice have the best possible experience.

I am a solicitor who specialises in advising law firms and solicitors on issues of risk and compliance. I also have experience advising corporate clients on regulatory issues such as health and safety, trading standards, licensing, risk management and governance. I believe these skills coupled with my personal commitment to the school and local community help me to be an effective Parent Governor.

I am the former joint Chairperson of the school's PTA and continue to be actively involved in fundraising activities for school.   (Updated Jan 2024)

Sukhdeep Briah - Parent Governor

I have been a Parent Governor since 2020.  I have 2 children at Coppice Primary School, one in year 4 and the other in year 5.  Both children are extremely happy and regularly mention how much they enjoy school.

I have been a secondary school teacher for 18 years and have recently taken a role at a school in Sutton Coldfield.  

I wanted to join the Governing Board at Coppice because I wanted to bring my experience of the transition and secondary school processes in order to help improve the experience for the children of Coppice.  It is vital that we give our children the best possible start in order to continue to improve their life chances and to become the best possible people that they can be.

Simon Higgins - Parent Governor

I became a Parent Governor in late 2023 and have two children at Coppice. I am currently the IT director for a large housing and care charity based in the Midlands, having previously spent 15 years at PwC where I helped organisations with governance, risk management and successfully delivering organisational change enabled by technology.

I have lived in Sutton Coldfield all of my life and outside of work I am a keen tennis player, enjoy live music and spending time with my family.   (Updated Feb 2024)

Mark Griffiths - Parent Governor

I have been a parent governor since December 2023 and am keen to expand my knowledge and contribute positively to the school. My son is in Year 1 and has thrived since being at Coppice. I welcomed the opportunity to give back in some way, as I have seen first-hand the positive impact that the school has on its children.

Away from Coppice I am the IT Director at a multi-academy trust and have extensive experience managing IT in various educational settings. I am also the DPO for the trust so know how to ensure compliance with GDPR. I have worked in schools for over 20 years and stay up-to-date with changes to Ofsted and KCSiE as well as education trends. I am also safer recruitment trained.

I live locally to Coppice and enjoy reading, travelling and time with my family most of all.  (Updated Feb 2024)

Further Information

The following documents provide more information about the role and responsibilities of the governor committees:

Other governor documents: