GCCF Student Judge

The Student Judge stage is completed once only.

If you later train on an additional Judge Progression Group, you do not repeat the Student Judge stage. Student Judge training applies to you as a candidate, not to individual breeds or lists.

This page explains how the Student Judge stage of judge training works in practice. It is written as a companion guide to support people considering judge training and candidates already working through the scheme. It explains expectations, how the stage usually works, and answers common questions in plain English.

Looking for Official Training Documents or Forms?

All official Judge Training Programme documents and forms are kept together on a separate page on this website.

This includes the current governance and training documents, application forms, assessment forms, tutorial paperwork, presentation forms, and all supporting guidance.

If you are applying, submitting paperwork, or checking requirements, you should always use the documents from the official documents and forms page, as these are kept up to date. The current Judge Training Programme documents issued by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy are where the official authority remains.

What the Student Judge Stage is

The Student Judge stage is the entry point into judge training. It comes after qualification as a GCCF steward and is designed to prepare candidates for judging by building experience under supervision.

During this stage, candidates learn how judging works in practice, how to apply the Standard of Points consistently, and how to observe, assess, and report on exhibits in a structured way. This stage focuses on learning and development rather than testing.

An Important Point to Understand

Remember, you complete the Student Judge stage once only.

Student Judge status applies to you as a candidate, not to individual breeds or lists. If you later add breeds or lists, you do not repeat the Student Judge stage. Those routes are covered separately in the current Judge Training Programme documents.

Is This Stage Right For You?

You should consider applying if you already feel confident around your chosen breeds and want structured guidance rather than informal feedback.

Most candidates at this stage are comfortable stewarding, are used to observing judging decisions, and are ready to begin writing short critiques and discussing placements with experienced judges. There is no expectation to rush. Progression is based on overall development and readiness, not speed. Significant learning takes place over time and should not be rushed.

Eligibility to Apply

Breeder Route

To apply via the breeder route, you must be a qualified GCCF steward.

You should have at least three consecutive years of regular exhibiting experience with a breed catered for by the relevant Judge Progression Group you are applying to.

You must also have at least two years of breeding experience with a breed catered for by that group, counted from the date of your first registered litter.

Neuter Owner Route

To apply via the neuter owner route, you must be a qualified GCCF steward and have at least four consecutive years of regular exhibiting experience with a breed catered for by the relevant Judge Progression Group.

You must also have owned and campaigned exhibits that have achieved Imperial title. This means the title has been awarded, not simply that the cat was entered in an Imperial class.

Applying to be a Student Judge

Applying to become a Student Judge involves two steps.

First, you must submit the JPG Payment Form and payment using the process shown on the form.

Second, you must complete the Student Judge Application Form and submit it using the route shown on the form and in the current training guidance. Once both steps are complete, acceptance as a Student Judge is administrative. This confirms entry into the training programme and does not guarantee later promotion.

Downloads and Key Documents

The following documents are required or referenced when applying to become a Student Judge and during the Student Judge stage of training.

Official Judge Training Programme Document

A fuller explanation of all the requirements can be found in the GCCF Judge Training document below.

What You Do as a Student Judge

As a Student Judge, you are expected to gain experience in several different ways, usually alongside each other.

Most candidates build experience by stewarding for full judges within their section, undertaking supervised parallel judging, completing Teaching and Learning tutorials, and writing short critiques on exhibits.

Where permitted, candidates may also judge miscellaneous or club classes. All of these activities are intended to help you develop confidence, consistency, and sound judgement over time.

Judging Miscellaneous and Club Classes

As a Student Judge, you may accept judging engagements for miscellaneous or club classes that include relevant breeds.

You may judge adult, kitten, and neuter exhibits where possible, with a maximum of 30 exhibits per engagement. You must not accept breed kitten classes at this stage.

Expenses cannot be claimed for these engagements.

Exhibiting While Judging as a Student Judge

If you are engaged to judge at a show, you are acting as a judge for that show. For this reason, the same rules apply to Student Judges as to all judges.

You cannot exhibit in the pedigree section at a show where you are judging in the pedigree section, even if you are only judging miscellaneous or club classes. This is because judges are not permitted to exhibit in the section in which they are judging.

You may still exhibit in the HHP section, provided you are not judging in that section.

Experience Expected Before Progression

Before applying to move on from the Student Judge stage, you are expected to have completed a range of training activities. These are minimum expectations, not targets to complete as quickly as possible.

Quick checklist before applying to become a Junior Judge

Before applying to progress from the Student Judge stage, you should normally have completed the following:

• A minimum of five parallel judging opportunities carried out under the supervision of a Full Judge, including at least one adult or neuter class.
• A minimum of five Teaching and Learning tutorials within your section, each supported by a short critique and tutor judge assessment.
• Short critiques on at least ten exhibits in total.
• A successful veterinary assessment.
• The online assessment, when available.

This checklist is a quick reference only. Progression is based on your overall training, experience, and readiness, not simply on meeting minimum numbers.

Judge training is intended to be developmental, not a box-ticking exercise. In practice, candidates are expected to have received feedback from their Judge Progression Group during the Student Judge stage. Progression should follow a period of feedback and reflection, rather than being based solely on completion of minimum activities.

You should always refer to the official documents and forms page for the current requirements before applying.

Parallel Judging

You are expected to undertake at least five breed classes judged in parallel under the supervision of a Full Judge. At least one of these must be an adult or neuter class.

The level and style of supervision during parallel judging is determined by the Full Judge acting as tutor. Some Full Judges may ask the candidate to assess and place the exhibits independently before discussing the outcome, while others may prefer to work alongside the candidate and talk through the process in real time. Both approaches are valid.

Candidates should follow the guidance given by the supervising Full Judge, as the purpose of parallel judging is learning under supervision, not demonstrating a fixed method.

Parallel judging may be undertaken while stewarding for a Full Judge or while engaged to judge miscellaneous or club classes.

Parallel judging is intended to build experience over time, allowing learning through observation and discussion.

If you are unfamiliar with parallel judging or would like a clearer understanding of how it works in practice, you may find it helpful to read our article – What Is Parallel Judging?

Teaching and Learning Tutorials

You are expected to complete at least five Teaching and Learning tutorials within your section.

Each tutorial must be supported by a short critique.

Teaching and Learning tutorials may be undertaken on any suitable exhibit present at the show, provided the Full Judge is engaged to judge at that show. The exhibit does not need to be in the judge’s book.

For a tutorial to count towards progression, both the candidate and the corresponding tutor judge tutorial form must also be submitted.

Written Critiques

You are expected to submit short critiques on at least ten exhibits in total during this stage. Critiques from tutorials and parallel judging count towards this total.

When writing critiques, care must be taken not to disrupt judging or upset exhibits. Re-examination of an exhibit is acceptable and may include removing the cat from the pen, provided this is done sensitively, at an appropriate time, and without hindering the Full Judge or the overall judging process. If an exhibit is required by a Junior Judge or Full Judge for judging, the Student Judge should step aside so that judging can take priority.

A range of exhibits is preferred, as this supports broader learning.

Veterinary Assessment

You must complete a successful veterinary assessment.

Completion of the veterinary assessment is required before you can qualify at the Student Judge stage and apply to become a Junior Judge.

Veterinary stewarding on its own does not meet this requirement, as it is not the same as a veterinary assessment. You can read more about the difference between a Veterinary Assessment and Veterinary Tuition in this article.

If a candidate completed a full veterinary assessment while training to be a steward, specifically to meet judge training requirements, this may be counted, provided it meets the current assessment criteria.

Online Assessment

You will be required to take and pass the online assessment when it is available.

Submission Expectations

Tutorial forms, critiques, parallel judging critiques, and veterinary assessment documentation should be submitted to the Judge Progression Group within 28 days.

It is your responsibility to ensure all required paperwork is complete. Work cannot count towards progression without the corresponding tutor judge documentation being submitted.

Final Note

Judge training evolves over time.

This page explains how the Student Judge stage works in practice, but the official Judge Training Programme documents are always the definitive source. If you are unsure at any stage, your Judge Progression Group should be your first point of contact.

Frequently Asked Questions