We're on a CRUSADE to help you achieve driving excellence through informative, enjoyable driving lessons.
We're on a CRUSADE to help you achieve driving excellence through informative, enjoyable driving lessons.
Have you ever considered becoming a driving instructor?
Becoming a driving instructor can be a rewarding career, but it is not simply about being a good driver. You need to be able to communicate clearly, remain patient, adapt your teaching to different people and, most importantly, understand how to help someone else become a safe and confident driver.
At Crusade Driving School, we provide practical guidance and training to help you work towards becoming a qualified Approved Driving Instructor (ADI).
I believe in giving candidates the skills and knowledge they need rather than simply teaching them how to pass a test. The aim is to help you become a competent, confident and effective driving instructor.
You will teach people with very different personalities, abilities, learning styles and levels of experience.
Being able to recognise how an individual learns and adapt your teaching accordingly is one of the most important skills you will develop as an instructor.
A good instructor needs to be able to explain what a pupil needs to do, but also explain why they need to be doing it.
Understanding the reason behind something makes it much easier for a pupil to learn, understand and apply what they have been taught.
You don't need nerves of steel to become a driving instructor.
A good instructor manages risk by controlling the lesson and making sure the pupil is only placed in situations they are ready to deal with.
Learning how to assess your pupil, anticipate problems and manage the risks involved is an important part of becoming a professional instructor.
To become an Approved Driving Instructor, you need to complete the DVSA's qualifying process.
There are three main tests:
You will also need to meet the DVSA's eligibility requirements and complete the necessary application and DBS checks.
The official requirements and process can change, so you should always check the latest driving instructor requirements on GOV.UK before starting your application.
ADI Part 1 is the advanced theory and hazard perception test.
My recommendation is that candidates prepare for Part 1 themselves.
If you are serious about becoming a driving instructor, you should be capable of studying and revising for the advanced theory test independently. I am happy to offer help and guidance if you need it, but I don't believe candidates need to pay for extensive one-to-one training for something they can successfully prepare for themselves.
You can find the latest information about the ADI Part 1 test and how to book it on GOV.UK.
Part 2 is an advanced driving test designed to assess your ability to drive safely and consistently.
My approach to Part 2 training is straightforward.
We start with an assessment drive to establish your current driving standard and identify any areas that need attention.
I'll then give you clear advice about what you need to work on. In many cases, the best thing to do is to go away and practise before coming back for another assessment.
We repeat this process as often as necessary until you are ready to take your Part 2 test.
This means you are not paying for unnecessary lessons simply for the sake of having lessons. The aim is to identify what needs improving, work on it and reassess your progress.
Part 3 is very different from Parts 1 and 2.
You are no longer being assessed simply on how well you can drive. You need to demonstrate that you can actually teach someone else to drive.
This is where I believe proper, practical training makes the biggest difference.
If you want to take the trainee licence route, you need to complete the required training with a qualified ADI.
I recommend a minimum of 40 hours of in-car training before progressing to the trainee licence.
During this training we work on the skills you need to become an effective instructor, including:
The objective is not simply to get you through Part 3. It is to start developing the skills you will need when you have pupils of your own.
Once you have completed the required training and passed ADI Part 2, you may be able to apply for a trainee driving instructor licence on GOV.UK.
I recommend this route because it gives you the opportunity to gain real experience teaching pupils before taking your Part 3 test.
The 40 hours of in-car training we complete before your trainee licence gives us the opportunity to develop the instructional skills you will need before you start teaching pupils.
Once you have your trainee licence, your training doesn't stop.
I believe the best way to prepare for Part 3 is to combine real teaching experience with ongoing training and feedback.
I can supervise you while you teach your own pupils, giving you the opportunity to gain experience and allowing me to see how you are developing in real lessons.
Where I identify areas that need further development, we can also use additional in-car training to work specifically on those areas.
This means your training can be adapted around your progress rather than simply following a fixed programme. The aim is to build your confidence, develop your teaching ability and give you the practical experience you need to prepare properly for ADI Part 3.
Part 3 assesses your ability to provide effective instruction while managing risk and adapting your teaching to the pupil.
Your preparation will therefore involve much more than learning a test routine.
We will work on your ability to:
The more experience you gain teaching real pupils, the more opportunities you have to develop these skills.
For more information about the Part 3 test, you can read the current ADI Part 3 guidance on GOV.UK.
I have been teaching people to drive for more than 13 years, and I believe good instructor training should be about producing good instructors — not simply getting someone through a test.
My approach is practical and focused on developing your ability to teach.
I will tell you what you are doing well, identify where you need to improve and give you the opportunity to practise those skills.
You won't be expected to become a perfect instructor overnight. The aim is to continually assess your progress and build your skills step by step.
If you are serious about becoming a driving instructor and would like to discuss the training process, get in touch with Crusade Driving School.
We can discuss where you are in the ADI process, what you need to work on and how I can help you progress towards becoming a qualified driving instructor.
