Judges
Welcome to the N&EMPF Judges section.
We currently have 35 judges in our Federation; some are long-standing judges with expert skills and experience and others have joined our judging community more recently and are developing their skills through practise and self-development. As a Federation, we are always looking for volunteers to join the Judges List.
In this section you can:
We currently have 35 judges in our Federation; some are long-standing judges with expert skills and experience and others have joined our judging community more recently and are developing their skills through practise and self-development. As a Federation, we are always looking for volunteers to join the Judges List.
In this section you can:
- see a list of all N&EMPF Judges
- find out how to become a N&EMPF judge
- find out about the N&EMPF ‘judging pathway‘ that we offer
- locate Judge Assessment Forms
- learn how to book a judge
- access informative articles and documents about judging
Current N&EMPF Judges
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The PAGB publishes a Handbook every two years containing all listed Lecturers and Judges. The last Handbook was published in 2022 and all information is being transferred online to the PAGB CES system.
How to become a N&EMPF Judge
Becoming a N&EMPF Judge is an enjoyable and rewarding voluntary role. You can do as much, or as little judging as suits you and you will be supported in your induction, training and development by the N&EMPF Judges and Lecturers Secretary and her team. Your travel expenses will be reimbursed by clubs at the recommended PAGB rate.
In the first instance you should contact the Judges and Lecturers Secretary for an informal chat either in person or on Zoom or by phone, when you can get lots of information and have all your queries answered. The next step is to come along to one of our annual Judges Introductory Days where you will meet other judges, hear talks on judging and try your hand at a bit of role-play judging in a friendly and supportive environment. If together we decide that judging is for you then you will be offered a tailored programme of training and development aimed at supporting you and helping you enjoy this fulfilling role. More detail on the pathway for N&EMPF judges can be found in the next section.
Becoming a N&EMPF Judge is an enjoyable and rewarding voluntary role. You can do as much, or as little judging as suits you and you will be supported in your induction, training and development by the N&EMPF Judges and Lecturers Secretary and her team. Your travel expenses will be reimbursed by clubs at the recommended PAGB rate.
In the first instance you should contact the Judges and Lecturers Secretary for an informal chat either in person or on Zoom or by phone, when you can get lots of information and have all your queries answered. The next step is to come along to one of our annual Judges Introductory Days where you will meet other judges, hear talks on judging and try your hand at a bit of role-play judging in a friendly and supportive environment. If together we decide that judging is for you then you will be offered a tailored programme of training and development aimed at supporting you and helping you enjoy this fulfilling role. More detail on the pathway for N&EMPF judges can be found in the next section.
The N&EMPF Judging Pathway
Following research feedback from clubs and individuals concerning the provision of judging resources to clubs, N&EMPF consulted with judges and developed a new ‘judging pathway’. Clubs told us that they would value a larger pool of judges and said it would be helpful if N&EMPF offered a clear programme of judge recruitment, training and development for both existing and new judges.
There are 4 key principles in the new Judging Pathway:
In the future, the new judging pathway will include the following new levels of judge:
More details of these levels and how they can be achieved can be found in the N&EMPF Judging Pathway document:
Following research feedback from clubs and individuals concerning the provision of judging resources to clubs, N&EMPF consulted with judges and developed a new ‘judging pathway’. Clubs told us that they would value a larger pool of judges and said it would be helpful if N&EMPF offered a clear programme of judge recruitment, training and development for both existing and new judges.
There are 4 key principles in the new Judging Pathway:
- to build and support a cohesive team of motivated and fulfilled top class judges who will meet the needs of our clubs, our members and our federation.
- to offer skills training, knowledge development and personal support to our judges as cornerstones of this initiative.
- to introduce Accreditation and Premier judge levels which judges may wish to work towards although these are not compulsory.
- to ask clubs to play their role and enable judge personal development by submitting a Judge's Assessment Form every time they use a N&EMPF judge.
In the future, the new judging pathway will include the following new levels of judge:
- Provisional Judge – includes new judges
- Accredited Judge
- Premier Judge
More details of these levels and how they can be achieved can be found in the N&EMPF Judging Pathway document:
N&EMPF Judging Pathway |
Judge Assessment Forms – and why these are important
One of the most critical aspects of helping a judge to develop their skills is an informed understanding of their current performance. From now on, Judge Assessment Forms will be a critical element of judge development and feature strongly in a new Judge Accreditation Scheme which judges can choose to take part in. Our research told us that some clubs don’t currently fill in these forms as they believe they are not used. Please be reassured that from now on, these forms will be used – and this will be done as part of a sensitive and constructive dialogue with individual judges to help them manage their development.
So, we are asking every club that gets the benefit of a N&EMPF judge to complete an Assessment Form for every competition event. We have updated the Judge's Assessment Form and ask that it is completed with objectivity and thought ideally by 2 – appropriately experienced club representatives. Every form returned will be acknowledged and will be collated with other forms and then used to help individual judges with their personal development.
The form is easy to complete and can be found on the N&EMPF website:
One of the most critical aspects of helping a judge to develop their skills is an informed understanding of their current performance. From now on, Judge Assessment Forms will be a critical element of judge development and feature strongly in a new Judge Accreditation Scheme which judges can choose to take part in. Our research told us that some clubs don’t currently fill in these forms as they believe they are not used. Please be reassured that from now on, these forms will be used – and this will be done as part of a sensitive and constructive dialogue with individual judges to help them manage their development.
So, we are asking every club that gets the benefit of a N&EMPF judge to complete an Assessment Form for every competition event. We have updated the Judge's Assessment Form and ask that it is completed with objectivity and thought ideally by 2 – appropriately experienced club representatives. Every form returned will be acknowledged and will be collated with other forms and then used to help individual judges with their personal development.
The form is easy to complete and can be found on the N&EMPF website:
Please do action this request – clubs want better judges and judges want to do all they can to provide the best possible service to clubs. It's a 'win-win' situation.
How to book a Judge
The PAGB has a comprehensive document on the booking of Judges and Lecturers and standard Terms and Conditions, which can be found here:
The PAGB has a comprehensive document on the booking of Judges and Lecturers and standard Terms and Conditions, which can be found here:
Best Practice Guidelines for N&EMPF Clubs on using Judges and Lecturers
Please note that in line with PAGB practice the descriptor ‘Speakers’ in this document refers to both judges and lecturers.
This Code is intended to ensure that the contributions of speakers at club events are properly recognised and that the event runs successfully and is enjoyed by everyone. This Code is supplemental to any term and conditions agreed between clubs and judges.
Please note that in line with PAGB practice the descriptor ‘Speakers’ in this document refers to both judges and lecturers.
This Code is intended to ensure that the contributions of speakers at club events are properly recognised and that the event runs successfully and is enjoyed by everyone. This Code is supplemental to any term and conditions agreed between clubs and judges.
Prior to the visit
- Bookings should include full event details including detailed instructions on the club’s location and parking arrangements. Use of a booking form or full email confirmation is recommended.
- Expenses and any fees should be estimated or agreed beforehand.
- The club programme should as a minimum, list the speaker and their distinctions.
- A reminder, including arrival time and Zoom link if relevant, should be sent shortly before the event. Mobile phone numbers should be exchanged for emergency contact.
On the day of the visit
- If possible, a parking space close to the club entrance should be reserved.
- Please have someone to meet your speaker/judge and help with boxes or equipment.
- Ideally, someone should be designated to look after the speaker throughout the event and ensure any needs are met.
- The speaker is your guest and should be afforded good hospitality. Please offer them a drink beforehand and at any interval.
- Judges should be offered the opportunity to view images in advance of the meeting. A maximum of 80 images is the recommended maximum number to assess in a typical club evening.
- Most lecturers and judges prefer to have their expenses paid in cash on the night although a bank transfer is acceptable. Cheques are not convenient for many people to pay-in these days.
- Please ensure that your speaker or judge does not have to ask for their expenses!
- Please ensure that your speaker is properly introduced and that a vote of thanks is given afterwards.
- Please complete and return a N&EMPF Judge's Assessment form or N&EMPF Lecturer's Assessment form after the visit. All feedback should be carefully considered and adequately objective. In N&EMPF these procedures are 2-way: from the club about the speaker and from the speaker about the club.
- All club judges and lecturers are volunteering their time to contribute to club events. A free contribution of time does not mean that it is without value and all speakers deserve to be thanked. A written communication after the meeting is courteous and always greatly appreciated. Judges do not require or accept payment. However, as stated by the PAGB, clubs have the option to present small gifts to lecturers and judges: no guidance is offered on such gifts, which are always discretionary.
Further guidance is available in the PAGB's Judges & Lecturers at Club Meetings, Code of Good Practice.
Informative articles and documents about judging
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Studio Judging |
Judges' Websites
The following N&EMPF judges have provided links to their websites:
Ashley Franklin
Robert Falconer
The following N&EMPF judges have provided links to their websites:
Ashley Franklin
Robert Falconer