Posts Tagged ‘ADI Training’
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
On Tuesday, Lansdowne Venture Group (LVG) incorporating Red Driving School, Red Instructor Training and Red Fleet Training was placed into Administration whilst a sale of the company as a going concern is pursued.
The company which was founded in 1992 has 22 instructor training colleges throughout the UK. LVG also offers accountancy services to driving instructors under the FBTC brand and publishes the driving instruction industry magazine ‘ADI News’.
Red Driving School recently featured on ITV’s Tonight Programme, ‘How to Blow Your Redundancy’, during which it was alleged that they were making false claims about earning potential as a Red driving instructor.
LVG’s instructor training division (formerly known as ‘The Instructor College’), has been responsible for training thousands of potential driving instructors, but with the Part 3 pass rate at only 28%, many will not have qualified.
The number of Approved Driving Instructors on the Driving Standards Agency Register has increased dramatically from 29,000 in 1999 to over 43,000 in 2008. The number of ADI’s currently on the Register is unknown.
For further information on the Administration of LVG Ltd, click here.
Tags: ADI News, ADI Training, Administration, Driving Instructor Training, Driving Standards Agency, DSA, FBTC, Lansdowne Venture Group, LVG Ltd, Red Driving School, Red Fleet Training, Red Instructor Training, The Instructor College, TIC
Posted in Industry News | 9 Comments »
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
Many driving instructors will already be aware of coaching and indeed, some are already incorporating it into their lessons. ‘Coaching’ is the big buzz word at the moment in the industry with the DSA attempting to incorporate new and improved techniques into teaching and testing with a view to creating much more responsible drivers than are created using traditional ‘instructional’ methods. Indeed, ‘coaching of driving skills and methods’ is listed in the competency framework for CPD for driving instructors and with the EU Hermes project focusing on ‘coaching and optimal communication skills’, you can expect to see a lot of development in this area over the coming months and years.
Coaching is not just a case of asking questions (which instructors do already as part of their everyday teaching). It is about asking questions which raise the awareness and responsibility from within the coachee. There are many tools that instructors can use from within the coaching toolbox and the effects of using coaching with learners can be quite profound.
Sir John Whitmore & Ged Wilmot
To date, there has been little information available about coaching specifically for driving instructors. Last year, the University of East London ran its pilot course – a Postgraduate qualification in ‘Coaching for Driver Development’ in which a handful of the best professional driver trainers and coaches from all aspects of the driving world were invited to attend. I was fortunate enough to be one of the delegates invited to attend that course, along with my good friend and colleague Kathy Higgins of Insight2Drive. We have recognised that courses and workshops for driving instructors are few and far between and so we have developed a one day coaching course specifically designed for Approved Driving Instructors.
The one day ‘Practical Coaching Techniques for Driving Instructors’ interactive workshop offers driving instructors essential information which can be incorporated into the everyday work of an ADI. The content will include basic principles and benefits of using coaching in driver training, what makes a good coach, and lots of practical coaching techniques. There are two workshop dates currently available, Monday 22nd February 2010 in Oldham and Thursday 18th March 2010 in Liverpool.
Both courses will be run by me (Ged Wilmot), Claire Wilmot and Kathy Higgins. Having a wealth of driver coaching experience, we are excited to be able to offer such a course to ADI’s throughout the North West of England.
The course fee is £139, which includes lunch and refreshments. Spaces are limited and going fast, so you’ll need to act quickly!
If you would like further information about the course, please contact Claire Wilmot on 07956 104160 or complete the contact form on the Active Driving Solutions website.
Tags: ADI Training, Claire Wilmot, Coaching, Coaching course, Driver Coaching, Driving instructor, Driving Lessons, Driving Standards Agency, Driving Tests, DSA, Ged Wilmot, Kathy Higgins, Practical driving test, Road Safety, Sir John Whitmore, Young drivers
Posted in Coaching, Events, Industry News | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
The new information pack for ADI’s is now being distributed to newly qualified driving instructors. The pack has been produced by the DSA following feedback from experienced ADI’s on what they would have liked when they started out on their new career as a driving instructor.
The new pack contains cards, leaflets and booklets full of information about their new career. It has among other things, useful information about check tests, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and a DVD for L test candidates – Are you ready?
Charles Morton, Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors for DSA, said: “We have listened to feedback from ADIs, which indicated that when they first qualified, they would have found a pack like this useful, as it contains information about how to make the most of their new career and help their pupils.
“The pack is designed to be glove box-sized so that ADIs can have it readily to hand. They will also be able to add any ‘pull-out-and-keep’ brochures we publish in Despatch magazine, and there is room for them to insert their own useful information.”
Although all new ADI’s will be sent the pack, those who registered within the last six months will have to request a pack to be sent to them. At the moment, ADI’s who qualified longer than 6 months ago will not be able to request the pack. ADI’s will have to wait and see if the DSA makes the pack readily available to those already qualified.
If you are eligible, you may obtain a pack by emailing adireg@dsa.gsi.gov.uk or writing to: DSA, The Axis Building, 112 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, NG1 6LP.
For information or advice on becoming a driving instructor, visit www.laticsdrivertraining.com or our sister company which provides ADI Training & Development www.activedrivingsolutions.com
Tags: ADI Information Pack, ADI Training, Approved Driving Instructor, Continual Professional Development, CPD, Driving instructor, Driving Standards Agency, DSA, Information pack
Posted in Industry News | 2 Comments »
Monday, September 21st, 2009
After much recent pressure from within the professional driver coaching industry, the DSA have made an important amendment to their driving test marking guidelines.
It seems to be a little known fact that a driver taking their driving test will not be faulted for simply failing to adopt the ‘pull-push’ steering technique. In truth, this has been the case for over 20 years, but the ‘pull-push’ method has become so ingrained within the industry that many driving instructors still vehemently insist on its use.
A new paragraph has appeared in the latest amendments to the DT1 (DSA Examiners Guidance Notes) with regard to ‘control’. You can access the full document here.
“To ensure uniformity, when conducting car or vocational tests and ADI qualifying examinations, only assess the candidate’s ability to control the vehicle and do not consider it as a fault if, for example, they do not hold the steering wheel at ten to two or quarter to three or if they cross their hands when turning the steering wheel. The assessment should be based on whether the steering is smooth, safe and under control.” (Crown Copyright)
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Tags: ADI, ADI Training, crossing hands, Driver Coaching, Driving Standards Agency, DSA, dt1, Part 3, Practical driving test, Pull push, steering technique
Posted in Coaching, Industry News | 7 Comments »
Friday, August 14th, 2009
The Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) will affect all driving instructors who teach anyone under the age of 17.
The changes in legislation were prompted by the murders of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells by caretaker Ian Huntley in 2002.
Under new legislation from July 2010, the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) have powers to bar unsuitable people from undertaking paid or volunteer work with children (up to age 18) and vulnerable adults.
ISA registration uses data collected by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) to decide if a person is unsuitable. Any person who has to apply for an enhanced CRB for work purposes will automatically have to gain ISA registration which means that all driving instructors will have to comply with the scheme. It also means that to comply with the ‘fit and proper person’ requirement for Driving Standards Agency (DSA) registration, anyone starting the qualification process to become a driving instructor from July 2010 will have to have an enhanced CRB check and gain ISA registration, even before they intend to teach either on a trainee licence or a full licence.
Existing driving instructors will have until 2015 to register.
Registration costs £64 and is for life.
Tags: ADI Training, CRB, Criminal Record Check, Driving instructor, Driving Lessons, DSA, ISA registration, PDI, VBS, Vetting and Barring Scheme
Posted in Driving Law, Industry News | No Comments »
Sunday, July 26th, 2009
Ged Wilmot with Trevor Wedge (DSA Chief Driving Examiner)
Congratulations to Ged Wilmot, Manager and ADI Trainer at Active Driving Solutions, who achieved faultless results in his recent DSA ORDIT assessment.
Ged and Claire Wilmot, who provide DSA ORDIT Approved Driving Instructor Training to clients from throughout the UK (as well as for Latics Driver Training) achieved fantastic results on their bi-annual assessment with Ged gaining straight 6’s, the best result you can possibly get.
This is the second time Ged has achieved the ultimate result of straight 6’s as he also managed it on his recent ADI Fleet Check Test.
All instructors trained by Ged and Claire can be assured that they are certainly getting the best ADI training out there. This benefits Latics Driver Training and the people who learn with Latics as all instructors trained by Ged and Claire really are trained to the highest standard.
Well done Ged, you really are top of the league! 
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Tags: Active Driving Solutions, ADI Training, Check Test, Driving Instructor Training, DSA, Ged Wilmot, Grade 6, Latics Driver Training, ORDIT
Posted in Events, Industry News, Latics News | No Comments »
Monday, May 25th, 2009
The industry is changing, and it’s about time! Out with the old-fashioned and largely ineffective teaching methods, and in with the successful new coaching style. Some may argue that their current instructional style is proving very effective, but they largely base this claim on their pass rates.
But pass rates mean nothing when young drivers pass their tests and go on to have crashes. The facts:
- An 18-year-old driver is more than three times as likely to be involved in a crash as a 48 year-old.
- One in five new drivers has a crash within six months of passing their test.
So at long last, it appears that the DSA are supporting the approaches that many driver trainers like myself have been pushing for for years – progressing from short-term instructional methods which tend to help learners pass the driving test, towards more active-learning methods which prepare learners for solo driving and to foster ongoing learning after passing their driving test.
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Tags: ADI Training, Coaching, Consultations, Driver Coaching, Driving coach, Driving instructor, Driving Lessons, DSA, Road casualties, Road deaths, Road Safety, Sir John Whitmore
Posted in Industry News, Road Safety | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009
Many Driving Standards Agency (DSA) internet services have moved from the Transport Office website to Business Link.
Driving instructors, transport operators, motorcycle instructors, driving instructor trainers or lorry, bus or taxi drivers can now access a range of online Department for Transport (DfT) tools and services through Business Link.
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Tags: ADI Training, DSA, Websites
Posted in Industry News | No Comments »
Thursday, March 26th, 2009
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has rather controversially confirmed its new test fee structure for 2009/10 following a public consultation in October last year, raising test fees yet again. This latest round of fee increases comes at a time when recession is hitting the UK hard, and has provoked outrage amongst driving instructors, motoring organisations and even MP’s.
The above-inflation fee increases will apply to theory and practical driving tests booked on or after 30 March 2009. Fees relating to the Approved Driving Instructor scheme will increase from 24 April 2009.
General fee increases include:
|
Current fee |
New fee |
| Car theory test |
£30.00 |
£31.00 |
| Car practical test |
£56.50 |
£62.00 |
| Motorcycle theory test |
£30.00 |
£31.00 |
| Motorcycle practical test * |
£80.00 |
£90.50 |
* (in October 2009)
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Tags: ADI Training, Driving Tests, DSA, Motorcyle News
Posted in Driving Law, Industry News | No Comments »
