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First vet nurse apprentice completes CQ End Point Assessment
The End Point Assessment is the final aspect of the Veterinary Nursing Apprenticeship.
Centre was the first to offer COVID-secure EPA assessments

Central Qualifications (CQ) are celebrating the first veterinary nurse apprentice to pass CQ's End Point Assessment (EPA).

CQ was the first End Point Assessment Organisation to offer COVID-secure assessment centres, and has been committed to serving the Veterinary Nursing Apprenticeship Standard despite the global challenges of the pandemic.

The successful student veterinary nurse, who trained at Lynwood School of Veterinary Nursing and works at Lynwood Vets in Bournemouth, was successful on her first attempt of the EPA which comprises a Professional Discussion and an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

The End Point Assessment is the final aspect of the Veterinary Nursing Apprenticeship. Upon completion, successful apprentices are able to gain their Veterinary Nursing Diploma and proceed to register with the RCVS as an RVN.

“We are really proud to be the first-ever school of veterinary nursing to have put forward the first student veterinary nurse through their apprenticeship end point assessment with Central Qualifications,” said Lisa Bugh, Joint Head of School at Lynwood School of Veterinary Nursing. “The student was successful on their first attempt.”

CQ, an Ofqual approved awarding body and End Point Assessment Organisation for veterinary and other animal-related establishments, congratulated the student on their achievement.

“All of the EPA Team at CQ are thrilled to have the first apprentice complete their EPA with us,” said William Barrow, Operations Manager at CQ. “We’d like to congratulate the learner on her achievement and thank everyone who’s worked tirelessly to deliver End Point Assessments in a covid secure manner.”

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.