diff --git a/batches/examples/README.md b/batches/examples/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4cbe8cff7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/batches/examples/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# Shift brief examples
+
+Validator fixtures for `bin/pyauto-brain batch brief --check`
+(autonomous-orchestrators phase 2). **Nothing here is a batch record**: none of
+it was dispatched, and `scripts/lifecycle.py` reads only `batches/*.md`, never
+this folder. The schema they follow is `../AGENTS.md`, "Shift brief
+(2026-11-03)". The named task paths are placeholders, so `--check` warns that
+they resolve to no prompt; that warning is expected.
diff --git a/batches/examples/shift_brief_example.md b/batches/examples/shift_brief_example.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c78f2809e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/batches/examples/shift_brief_example.md
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+# Batch 2026-11-04 am
+- dispatched: 2026-11-04T08:30Z
+- review-at: 2026-11-04T11:30Z      # stated by the human; the grant expires here
+- shift: morning
+- issue: https://github.com/PyAutoLabs/PyAutoMind/issues/1   # the digest is posted here once
+- packet: yes
+- heart-ack:
+  - Release YELLOW; monitoring RED
+- expected-effects:
+  - example-member: merges into PyAutoArray and may stale release validation
+- brief:
+  - goals:
+    - 1. land the next cluster-strong-lensing slice
+    - 2. clear review-ready glance PRs on PyAutoArray
+  - tasks:
+    - draft/feature/autolens/example_named_task.md
+  - backlog: scoped
+  - scoped:
+    - epics: cluster-strong-lensing, autonomous-orchestrators
+    - tags: jax-gradient
+    - tiers: notify, glance
+  - exclude:
+    - draft/feature/autofit/example_excluded_task.md
+    - epics: euclid-dr1
+  - review-minutes: 45
+  - lanes: any local-dev ral
+  - merge-cap: 3
+  - token-budget: 2000000
+  - ral-allowance:
+    - packets: 2
+    - partition: ral
+    - cpu-hours: 64
diff --git a/tests/test_lifecycle_check.py b/tests/test_lifecycle_check.py
index 772fec525..d6d3f13fb 100644
--- a/tests/test_lifecycle_check.py
+++ b/tests/test_lifecycle_check.py
@@ -991,6 +991,20 @@ def test_the_agents_page_is_not_a_batch_record(tmp_path):
     assert lifecycle.batch_records(tmp_path) == []
 
 
+def test_shift_brief_examples_are_not_batch_records(tmp_path):
+    """`batches/examples/` holds validator fixtures (`batch brief --check`):
+    nothing in it was dispatched, so a member path there that resolves nowhere
+    is not drift, and a missing `review-minutes-actual:` is not a warning."""
+    examples = tmp_path / "batches" / "examples"
+    examples.mkdir(parents=True)
+    (examples / "shift_brief_example.md").write_text(
+        "# Batch 2026-11-04 am\n- review: batches/reviews/x.md\n- members:\n"
+        + MEMBER + "\n")
+    assert lifecycle.batch_records(tmp_path) == []
+    assert lifecycle.batch_member_problems(tmp_path) == []
+    assert lifecycle.batch_record_warnings(tmp_path) == []
+
+
 def test_a_closed_record_with_no_measured_review_cost_warns(tmp_path):
     """`review-minutes-actual:` is "the only calibration there is" — without it
     the budget every batch is planned against never improves."""