The Kennel Club has appointed an independent Review Panel to lead a comprehensive evaluation of the Judges Education Programme (JEP), which has represented one of the most significant changes to judge training and progression in the UK in recent decades.
The Review Panel has now convened and will assess how well the programme is meeting its objectives of improving judging standards, supporting breed education, and preparing competent and confident judges for the future.
The appointment of the Review Panel follows an open call for volunteers, which attracted 75 applications. The selection process was anonymised and independently scored, with shortlisted candidates interviewed by David Craig, Board Member, Roger Perkins, Chair of the Risk and Audit Committee, and Barry Jones, Judges Education Manager.
The Review Panel will be chaired by David Craig. Its members are:
- Julien Barney
- Rachel Berrington
- Sue Bull
- Alayna Morland
- Sue Shinkfield
- Frank Whyte
Barry Jones, Judges Education Manager at The Kennel Club, will support the panel in an advisory capacity.
Panel members bring a wide range of experience across judging, exhibiting, breeding, breed education, mentoring, observing and show organisation. They also bring professional expertise in adult learning, assessment, verification and quality assurance.
The Review Panel’s work is scheduled to conclude in early 2026. Its findings and recommendations will be published in full.
The JEP, introduced in 2021, is designed to support judges from entry level through to Best in Show at general championship level. It replaces the previous system with a structured, six-level framework that allows judges to progress at their own pace. As the final transitional routes come to an end, including A2 and Grandfathering by 31 December 2025, the JEP will soon become the sole route for judging progression.
Since its launch, the JEP has delivered 16 Eye for a Dog assessments and 40 Breed Specific Assessments, with pass rates of 64 percent and 58 percent respectively. As the JEP becomes the only route for progression, demand for assessments is expected to increase. The Kennel Club is using its experience to date to inform future planning, including the frequency and location of assessments.
As Ian Seath has acknowledged in previous speeches, the JEP has prompted passionate debate. The review is an opportunity to listen, reflect and improve. The Kennel Club welcomes feedback from all those involved in judging and education.