#TheCollegeWrapped: Our achievements from April to June 2025
From boosting children’s eye health awareness to celebrating our first OptPE affix and refreshing member learning - here’s how we shaped the profession in early 2025.
Our 2025 research revealed that one in ten parents or carers will only take their child for their first visit to the optometrist if and when an eye health or vision issue arises, with around one in 12 going straight to their GP instead.
These findings highlighted the need for clear guidance and better signposting, helping families make informed choices and ensuring children get the right care promptly. Our work throughout 2025 has focused on raising awareness and supporting parents with reliable, accessible information.
In April, we marked a milestone at our AGM by launching the Optometric Practice Educator (OptPE) affix.
This award recognises supervisors who complete enhanced training, reflective practice, and peer review. The first recipients exemplify dedication to mentoring and nurturing the next generation of optometrists, reinforcing a culture of excellence and professional growth.
We completed our annual programme of assessor and examiner training for those working with us to deliver the Scheme for Registration. We also trained the first group of CLiP assessors, who are now delivering the first assessments on the programme. Our comprehensive training and standardisation processes ensure that all who qualify have met the same rigorous standards, consistently and fairly applied.