Information about Judging & Education

The English Setter Joint Judges Committee (JJC) was formed in 1998 with the main objectives to: 

1. Produce and maintain a common Judging List to be used by all English Setter breed clubs.
2. Co-ordinate an integrated education programme to deliver breed specific seminars mentoring and assessments.
3. Encourage all canine societies to select judges from the English Setter Judging Lists.

The JJC, which includes representatives from the six breed clubs, has been very successful in providing a consistent
and unbiased approach for developing judges, agreeing Judging List criteria and an effective format for education/training programmes.
The JJC is also a single body for English Setters when dealing with the Kennel Club on all judging related matters.

Judges' Education Programme (Breed Shows)
A new system has been developed for the education, approval and listing of every level of judge, from those who aspire to judge, right through to open show judges, plus those who go on to award Challenge Certificates, judge championship show groups and best in show.

The system has been designed taking into account the feedback received from exhibitors, show societies and judges.

The Judges Education Programme introduces a structured and logical approach to the training of judges, incorporating a step-by-step approach.

Royal Kennel Club Regulations implementing the Judges Education Programme came into force on 1 January 2021. Seminars undertaken prior to this date can be accepted for use when progressing via the Judges Education Programme. However, judges are required to complete the criteria at each Judges Education Programme level before moving on to the next.

Stewarding is a requirement for both levels 1 and 3 and therefore a more fluid approach can be taken here. 
To view:    Click Level 1    Click Level 2    Click Level 3    Click Level 4


Breed Education Co-Ordinators (BECs)

The Royal Kennel Club breed education co-ordinators (known as the BECs) are administrative roles to co-ordinate all points of breed-specific education and support for judges. These co-ordinating roles are held on behalf of the breed clubs in order to support the breed club obligations under the Judges' Education Programme (Breed Shows) for the education and training of judges.

This section contains all the relevant information you'll need to be a breed education co-ordinator.

What is the purpose of a breed education co-ordinator (BEC)?
A breed education co-ordinator (known as the BEC) is an administrative role to co-ordinate all points of breed-specific education and support for judges up to CC awarding level. This co-ordinating role is held on behalf of the breed clubs in order to support the breed clubs’ obligations under the Judges Education Programme (Breed Shows) for the education and training of judges.

The BEC is, therefore, someone who will work with breed clubs/breed council to assist and monitor level 1–3 judges who wish to progress through the breed-specific judging levels, with the purpose of helping each judge to identify opportunities for them to enhance their knowledge of the breed right through to achieving level 4.

For some breeds that have large numbers of breed clubs, it may be that each breed club might wish to appoint a representative with the sole purpose of liaising with the BEC. This will ensure that all breed clubs are involved as well as creating balance in the distribution of workload. Breeds will develop a model of working that suits them.

The BEC’s role is not intended to remove the responsibility for a judge’s education process from a breed club/breed council. The BEC is a key co-ordinating role on behalf of the Judges Education Programme (Breed Shows) for the education and training of judges.

The English Setter Breed Education Co-Ordinator is Mr David Howarth: email - esettbec@gmail.com