Only one of my students has ever failed twice. The rest have failed once and then passed or passed first time. I’ve got a 75pc plus pass rate. I take pride in getting my students through the test in a very efficient manner.
I have had to do the “break-up” with a couple of students: I was trying to teach them and I didn’t feel like they were learning. It was nothing personal; our styles were just not compatible. I gently moved them on to another instructor. It does leave a bit of a sour taste in your mouth as an instructor because I see it as a bit of a personal failure.
The most common reason people fail their tests is nerves. You can get someone who is trained up and then I say, “we are going to do a mock test, I’m going to put you under test conditions and assess your driving for an hour”, and they fall apart. Other students have attitude problems – often they have watched their parents drive and have picked up some bad habits.
We hear a lot about long waiting times for tests. In London, it’s almost impossible to get a test date which is why people from the capital come here to Ipswich to do their test. If you book a test in June, you’ll get a date for November.
The hardest part of the job is the self-discipline you need to work for yourself. It’s also quite a lonely job. You don’t work with other people. I don’t mind sitting in the car all day but my back does. I have to work out regularly.
The best part of this job is the flexibility. I love being my own boss. I’ve always chafed at having someone tell me what to do. I like to choose my own hours. Some people may prefer a standard nine-to-five, but this really works for me.
It gives me the freedom and the money to pursue my real passion in life: racing. I spend £24,000 a year on racing: that covers participating in seven race weekends a year with car hire, transport, accommodation, race fees. I know it’s mad to spend that much money but I am obsessed with it.
I love racing wheel-to-wheel with someone, battling them side-to-side and then coming out on top. Being the best at something is a major motivator, even if I only win a hat, some bubbles and a trophy. I am so passionate about driving a car as fast as I can that I am willing to throw my life savings away to do it.
I absolutely see being a driving instructor as a great career for life. I like the job and I can afford my racing and I can afford to save up for a deposit for a house.
Some people might get bored driving around all day but I always find a way to put energy into teaching. I’m in a very fortunate position. I’ve found what I like doing and what I’m good at – that’s something a lot of people don’t achieve in their whole life, let alone when they are 22.