Education & Training
A structured guide to every milestone in colorectal surgical training — from FRCS preparation and JAG colonoscopy accreditation through to robotic surgery and life as a consultant.
1,200+
Members
240 SBA
Per section 1 paper
280+
Colonoscopies for JAG
2
Days — Section 2 exam
Fellowship of the Royal Colleges · JCIE
The Intercollegiate Specialty Examination in General Surgery is administered by the JCIE and consists of two sections. Section 1 must be passed before sitting Section 2. Candidates have up to 4 attempts at each section.
Written examination · Computer-based
Paper 1: 120 Single Best Answer (SBA) questions · 2 hrs 15 min
Paper 2: 120 Single Best Answer (SBA) questions · 2 hrs 15 min
Questions span the full General Surgery curriculum — colorectal, upper GI, breast, vascular, endocrine, HPB, emergency, critical care, and basic sciences.
Dukes' Club resources
SBA Question Bank
800+ questions
Revision Wiki
Curriculum-mapped articles
Viva Scenarios
Consultant-authored
Video Lectures
47 recorded sessions
Exam Guides
Free · No login required
Advice from those who've been there
Practical guidance gathered from Dukes' Club members and consultant faculty who have recently passed or examined at FRCS level.
01
Start Section 1 revision at ST5
Don't wait until you're eligible to sit. Build SBA practice into your weekly routine from ST5 onwards — the broad curriculum takes time to cover and familiarity with question style matters as much as raw knowledge.
02
Be broad, not deep
The single biggest mistake candidates make is going too deep on colorectal and neglecting the rest of the syllabus. Section 1 will test you on vascular surgery, parotid and submandibular gland disease, bariatric, endocrine, transplant, and trauma — in exactly the same proportion as colorectal. A solid pass across everything beats a perfect score in one area.
03
Read the syllabus — all of it
Download the JCIE General Surgery syllabus and read every line. Candidates are caught out every sitting by topics they assumed wouldn't come up. Pay particular attention to less obvious entries — salivary glands, detailed vascular surgery, bariatric physiology, renal transplant.
04
Read Colorectal Disease cover to cover
For Section 2 vivas with a colorectal special interest, the ACPGBI / BSG journal Colorectal Disease is essential reading. Aim for the last 2–3 years of issues, focusing on original articles and review papers on high-yield topics.
05
Do question banks relentlessly
SBA technique is a learnable skill. Doing hundreds of questions teaches you how to read stems, spot distractors, and manage time. Aim for at least 2,000 questions across multiple banks before sitting Section 1 — and review the explanations for every wrong answer, not just the score.
06
Know your guidelines cold
NICE, ACPGBI, ESCP, ERAS, and BSG guidelines are fair game at both sections. High-yield areas: rectal cancer (MRI staging, TNT, watch-and-wait), IBD, diverticular disease, bowel obstruction, acute pancreatitis, and upper GI bleeding.
07
Viva in pairs from day one of Section 2 prep
Start mock vivas as soon as Section 1 is done — don't wait. A daily viva with a revision partner, even 20 minutes on the ward, builds the structured thinking pattern that examiners are looking for.
08
Attend a dedicated viva prep course
A focused mock viva course 4–6 weeks before Section 2 is invaluable for calibrating your performance against the pass standard. Check the events page for Dukes'-endorsed courses.
ISCP General Surgery Curriculum 2021 · Colorectal Special Interest
CCT is awarded when you demonstrate Day-1 consultant level across all Capabilities in Practice (CiPs). The numbers below are indicative minimums from the 2024 Manchester, Lancashire & South Cumbria CCT checklist.
Elective & Emergency General Surgery
Indicative Operative Numbers — end of ST6
| Procedure | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Appendicectomy | 60 |
| Inguinal hernia | 50 |
| Emergency laparotomy | 45 |
| Cholecystectomy | 40 |
| Segmental colectomy | 15 |
Operative Competency — end of ST6
PBA Requirements (3 different assessors)
| Procedure | Standard |
|---|---|
| Hernia repair (all types) | 3 × Level 4 PBA |
| Cholecystectomy (lap or open) | 3 × Level 3 PBA |
| Segmental colectomy | 3 × Level 3 PBA |
PBA Level 4 = independent. Level 3 = performed with minimal assistance. All PBAs must be from three different assessors.
5 Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) — Level III by end of Phase 2
Supervision levels required at Phase 2 critical progression point
| Capability | Required Level |
|---|---|
| Outpatient clinic | Level III — independent |
| Emergency surgical take | Level III — independent |
| Ward rounds & inpatient care | Level III — independent |
| Operating list | Level IIb — supervisor present for part of list |
| MDT working | Level III — independent |
The Phase 2 critical progression point (end of ST6) must be confirmed by ARCP before eligibility to sit FRCS Section 1 and Section 2.
Joint Advisory Group on GI Endoscopy · JETS
JAG colonoscopy certification is not a mandatory CCT requirement, but most colorectal consultant person specifications list it as essential.
Minimum colonoscopies
280
200 if already FS certified
Unassisted caecal intubation
>90%
averaged over 3 months
Polyp detection rate
>15%
BSG standard
Recent activity required
15+
procedures in last 3 months
Summative DOPS required
4
by 2 different assessors
Polypectomy assessment
SMSA
Level 1 & 2 DOPyS required
Step-by-step certification pathway
Register on JETS immediately
Log every colonoscopy from your very first list. Procedures performed before JETS registration cannot be counted retroactively. Set up your account at jets.nhs.uk at the start of each new rotation.
Attend the JAG Basic Skills in Colonoscopy course
Mandatory attendance at a JAG-approved Basic Skills course. Can be completed at simulation centres or dedicated endoscopy training units. Book early — places fill quickly.
Complete formative DOPS throughout training
Aim for a DOPS on every training list. The last 5 formative DOPS before summative assessment must all score competent without supervision in >90% of items.
Complete DOPyS for polypectomy (SMSA Level 1 & 2)
DOPyS is the polypectomy-specific DOPS. You need competency at SMSA Level 1 (small polyps) and Level 2 (larger / more complex). Log a DOPyS for every polypectomy.
Trigger summative DOPS assessment
Once you meet the KPI thresholds, procedure count, and course attendance, apply for summative assessment. 4 summative DOPS — by a minimum of 2 different assessors — all within one month.
Training Lead and JETS national sign-off
Your portfolio is reviewed by your local Training Lead, then submitted for JETS national review. Certificate issued by JAG on successful completion.
BSG performance standards required for certification
>90%
Caecal intubation rate (unassisted)
>90%
Rectal retroflexion
>15%
Polyp detection rate
>90%
Polyp retrieval rate
<10%
Moderate / severe patient pain
>60%
Terminal ileal intubation (IBD suspected)
Polypectomy SMSA scoring — what does it mean?
SMSA stands for Size, Morphology, Site, Access. Each factor is scored to give a total difficulty level:
Practical tips from colorectal trainees
Members Only · Video Library
Consultant-led video guides covering the fundamental techniques of diagnostic colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy.
Scope Handling
Scope handling, torque, and tip deflection
Grip technique, clockwise and counter-clockwise torque, up/down and left/right tip control.
JAG Domain 1 · DOPS item 1–3
Patient Preparation
Patient positioning and pre-procedure check
Left lateral positioning, consent confirmation, equipment check, and sedation pathway.
JAG Domain 2 · DOPS item 4–6
Insertion & Navigation
Colonoscope insertion and basic navigation
Anal canal insertion, rectal retroflexion, sigmoid loop reduction, and splenic flexure negotiation.
JAG Domain 3 · DOPS item 7–10
Caecal Intubation
Achieving caecal intubation — tips and troubleshooting
Hepatic flexure technique, position changes, abdominal pressure, and confirming caecal landmarks.
JAG Domain 3 · DOPS item 11–12
ACPGBI Position Statement 2025 · Colorectal Disease, Evans et al.
Robotic-assisted colorectal surgery (RACS) has grown exponentially across the UK and Ireland. The NHS has committed to robotic-assisted surgery as the default for many operations, with projections of 500,000 robotic procedures per year by 2035.
200+
da Vinci systems in UK hospitals
300k+
UK & Ireland patients treated robotically
500k
operations/year projected by 2035
90%
of keyhole cancer ops robotic within 10 yrs
Platforms in UK NHS Practice
Intuitive Surgical
Dominant UK platformCMR Surgical · Cambridge, UK
Growing UK presenceMedtronic
Entering UK marketACPGBI 2025 Training Framework — Three Levels
Published in Colorectal Disease (Evans, Shakir, El-Sayed et al., on behalf of The Dukes' Club and ACPGBI Robotic Clinical Advisory Group).
For all trainees — from core surgical training onwards
Component-based procedural training — ST6–8
Consultant-level trainer accreditation
da Vinci Training Pathway — Intuitive Surgical
Online only
System Certification
2-day course · Intuitive Training Centre, Reading
Basic Robotic Skills
Proctored live surgery
Initial Case Series
Independent practice
Credentialling & Mastery
The ACPGBI acknowledges trainee frustration
Many junior trainees feel training opportunities are being lost to consultants undergoing their own robotic learning curve, and are struggling to meet laparoscopic case numbers at robotic-only centres.
Reassurance from the ACPGBI
RACS is primarily an alternative platform for minimally invasive surgery — the key principles and techniques of colorectal surgery remain the same across open, laparoscopic, and robotic approaches.
Members Only · Dukes' Club Network
Dukes' Club connects colorectal trainees and consultants across every deanery in the UK and Ireland — and increasingly worldwide.
Trainee & Consultant Network
Connect directly with consultants across all 17 NHS England deaneries, plus Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland. Mentor matching, career advice, and peer support.
Global Reach
An expanding international membership spanning North America, Australasia, and the Middle East — connecting UK-trained colorectal surgeons wherever they practise.
Discussion & Peer Support
Ask questions, share cases, and get practical advice from peers navigating the same milestones.
Events & Webinars
Members-only access to live webinars, virtual journal clubs, FRCS revision sessions, and the annual Dukes' Club meeting.
Research Collaboration
Find co-investigators, recruit to multicentre audits, and connect with the ACPGBI research committee.
Join over 1,200 colorectal trainees with access to the full resource library, question bank, and events programme.