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 Lessons
Lessons with Mark's Driving school are always conducted on a "One-to-one" basis, with no "piggy-backing", collecting or dropping off the previous or next pupil.
The time you pay for is what you get – no mobile phone conversations, booking other pupils or anything other than full attention to you.
Lessons can be arranged for weekdays, evenings and Saturdays, subject of course to current diary commitments.
The preferred length of lesson is 1.5 hours. A one hour lesson doesn’t always realise its full potential once you have settled in. Two hour lessons are too tiring for some people, especially when new to driving.
A popular feature is a double lesson of 1.5 hours + break + 1.5 hours. The break of half an hour is unpaid and allows us to unwind over a cup of tea (or whatever!).
It is also preferred that you take more than one lesson per week, although it is understood there are time and money constraints involved here! With one lesson a week, you can spend time remembering what you were last taught and getting back up to speed again – you will take longer overall to pass your Test if this happens.
Pick-ups for lessons can be arranged for your home, work or a mutually convenient railway station, so you can have a lesson after work or travel to the teaching area if you live too far away.
Mark's Driving school uses a Pupil Progress Record system based on the DSA’s Driver’s Record. The 20 Key Areas of the Driver’s Record follow the official syllabus for learning to drive.
Mark's driving school has broken these Key Areas down into Skill Areas so you can see more quickly how you are progressing.
Courses
Mark's driving school has experience with “Intensive” Courses has been that they are not suited to everyone. Sometimes you want to pass the Test as soon as possible but taking a week’s Course with a Test at the end of it is – well –Intensive. There is a lot to learn, especially for a new driver, and most people need time to digest what they are taught, then to practise and develop it before moving on the next stage.
The preferred maximum lesson duration is four hours per day and twenty hours per week.
Anyone wishing to take a Course should take an Assessment Lesson first to establish whether the Course is the right way for you to go.
Non-UK Licence Holders
Mark's driving school is experienced with helping people with a non-UK driving licence to pass the UK Driving Test. You will not be taught how to drive (if you already know how!) but will be coached in what you have to do to demonstrate that your driving reaches the standard required by the DSA.
Pass Plus
I am an Instructor Registered with DSA to take part in the Pass Plus programme.
What is this? To quote DSA:-
Pass Plus is a training course specifically aimed at new drivers, designed by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) with the help of insurers and the driving instruction industry. Pass Plus will build upon your existing skills and knowledge, it will teach you how to anticipate, plan for and deal with all kinds of hazards, and can help you to become more confident on the roads.
Pass Plus is made up of six practical modules as follows:-
- driving in town
- driving in all weathers
- driving on rural roads
- driving at night
- driving on dual carriageways
- driving on motorways
Anyone who holds a full UK licence is eligible to take part in the scheme.
You will not have to take a test at the end of the course but you will be continually assessed.
You must successfully complete all the modules in the course to an achieved or exceeded standard.
Pass Plus is done over 6 hours – either in one go (with breaks!) or two sessions of 3 hours each. At least one of these sessions will be on motorways.
At the end of the course we both sign a Training Record form which is sent to DSA – they will then issue you with a Certificate to show your insurance company, who should recognise that your additional training means you are less likely to have an accident – and therefore less likely to make a claim – enabling them to offer you a reduction on your insurance premium.
Learning Aids
Mark's Driving school recommends you study for your Theory Test and Practical Test using the following books and CDs/DVDs.
There are other products available.
The Official DSA products are available from major bookshops and online from The Stationery Office Shop website, click here, then click on the "DSA-Driving" tab then select "Car Drivers".
Title |
Medium |
Author |
Essential |
|
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The Official DSA Theory Test for Car Drivers |
Book |
DSA |
The Highway Code |
Book |
DSA |
Know Your Traffic Signs |
Book |
DSA |
Recommended |
|
|
The Official DSA Complete Theory Test Kit |
CD-ROM + DVD (2x) |
DSA |
Alternatively (complete pack) |
|
|
The Official DSA Complete Learner Driver Pack – Electronic Version (Theory Test, Hazard Perception Test, Guide to Practical Test, Electronic version of Highway Code) |
CD-ROM + DVD (3x) |
DSA |
In Addition |
|
|
Driving Test Success Theory / Hazard Perception |
CDs (pack) |
Focus Multi- Media |
Further reading: |
|
|
The Official DSA Guide to Driving – The Essential Skills |
Book |
DSA |
Instructor Training
Whether you’re training with another organisation or managing your own training, Mark's Driving school can help you!
Booster Sessions
Not getting enough hours from your College or Training Establishment?
I will tailor booster sessions to your precise needs, working with your existing syllabus to increase your chances of getting that Green Badge!
Part 2 – extra hours “in-car”, working on your Driving skills in the area you will take your Test.
Part 3 Introduction – experience what Part 3 is all about before taking the Part 3 course, so you get maximum benefit from it.
If you understand what you are in for, you will be better able to prepare for it, you may not have time to catch up once you are on the course!
Part 3 – extra hours “in-car”, working on your Instructional Ability: Role-play, Core Competencies, PSTs. |
Remedial Sessions
Failed a Test and need more hours?
Mark's Driving School will again tailor remedial sessions to your precise needs, concentrating on aspects which you need to improve on, without wasting time on thise you are happy with.
Trainee Licence Support
Mark's Driving school will tailor sessions to your precise needs, again concentrating on aspects you need to improve on.
Additional 20 Hours and 5 Hours
Mark's Driving school can carry out and sign off the "20 hours additional training required if you are on a Trainee Licence ("pink badge") and select the option of additional training.
Mark's Driving school can carry out and sign off the "5 hours additional training required if you are on a Trainee Licence and fail a Part 3 test
Courses
Mark's Driving school will arrange a tailor-made course to suit your requirements, either on a hourly basis or a fixed-fee basis.
The training will be arranged between us for times and over a period to suit your availability and speed of learning – perhaps one three-hour session per week, or all-day sessions if you prefer.
Mark's Driving school will only carry out training on a one-to-one basis (no back-seat passengers) and "the time you pay for is what you get" (breaks are oustide the paid time)
Contact Mark's Driving school for details of our competitive prices for Instructor Training |
