A Driving Instructor’s Working Day
General:
A strange aspect of the job for me is that you share an aspect of your life with your pupil and may get on really well with them. Then they pass a driving test and it then becomes a bittersweet moment as they move out of your life.
Another aspect of the job I like is that there is always something new to learn. There are various professional courses you can take. It’s good to talk with other driving instructors who can be very helpful. In a very short space of time you will know which ones to avoid as apparently they really do know everything!
At driving-pro.com I am very lucky to be working with some top instructors. We have regular monthly breakfast meetings and it is good to touch base with each other. Any work or instructional problems can be sorted out with a bit of good company.
My style of driver training is very relaxed, so for me it is important that I like the pupil. As they are paying me I normally find this very easy. I will work with the pupil and try and do my best for them. Quite often I worry that my best might not be good enough.
I run my working week round my diary. This is a large Agenda Planning one. Some instructors use Apps but I prefer paper. My age I guess.
Most of my work is local so I am able to pop in and out of home during the day. If there is something I need to do during the day I am able to work my diary around that. However I do need to be mindful of pupils regular slots.
Overall for me it’s a people job and people are the best and most precious thing of all. So if you can get them to drive safely you have done a good thing.
Pupils:
I have realized than when I’m talking to some of the youngsters that I am talking about things that they have never heard of. But by the same token they are talking about things I have never heard of either. But that’s a thing with the age difference and we do get on.
When I’m working with the pupils I normally want to learn something from them as well. It might be a turn of phrase or a way of seeing the world. Better than that it might be a recommended book or film to watch. Or maybe a recipe! I enjoy both cooking and eating what I have made.
Occasionally you can learn something more profound from your pupils. I became a vegetarian on the basis of a chance remark by one of my pupils.
As a driving instructor I am very open to pupils bringing friends and family on the lesson. When they pass they will be with them so why not when they are learning?
You will meet people in their richness and diversity. Treat them as friends.
You will have to adapt to your pupils. This is the trickiest one. As a new instructor you will want to be as open as possible to your pupils. Over a period of time you will learn to say no.
Your Pupils Tests:
The best bit is when your pupil has passed their test and tears of joy are not uncommon. There are not many jobs that will give you that sort of satisfaction.
By the same token the worst bit is when you have had a pupil fail. Again tears are quite common. Some people will have an awful lot riding on the result. So long as you have done your best for the pupil and have been fair and honest with them this is normally okay to deal with.
Advanced Driving Tests:
A lot of us driving instructors like to go on to take more driving tests! We drive and teach it for a living so why not do the advanced tests?
The most familiar one is the IAM test which is one hour pass or fail.
The next is RoSPA one hour who’s pass’s are graded Bronze, Silver and Gold.
Less familiar are The Diamond advanced tests run by the Driver Instructor Association.
The Diamond Advanced is one hour pass or fail.
The Diamond Elite is one and a half hours pass or fail.
Only open to driving instructors is The Cardington Test which is run by The DVSA and is one and a half hours graded A,B,C & D. The grade A being top.
About Driving-Pro
Driving-Pro is an independent driving school based in Portsmouth. Our fantastic team of local driving instructors deliver lessons throughout Portsmouth, Havant, Fareham, Gosport and Waterlooville.
We firmly believe in a client-centred approach to training. We use modern coaching practices to encourage our learners to think independently and to make safe choices when driving.
Driver training standards are always moving forward, so all our instructors are dedicated to keeping up to speed. We work closely with the DVSA to stay up to date with modern training techniques.
Our Driving Courses
We are proud to offer individually personalised driving lessons for beginners and experienced drivers
Our qualified, professional instructors want to get you driving in a relaxed and positive atmosphere where you will enjoy learning to drive properly.
Learner Driver Courses
Our friendly and experienced driving instructors will guide you through all of the stages of passing your driving test.
Refresher Driver Training
Want motorway experience or never driven in the UK? We will help you to become safe and confident on the road again.
Taxi Training
You are much more likely to pass your taxi test if you have some training beforehand. We know what the examiner is looking for.