BSM driving school - much better?

Mips

I am ashamed to say I have probably had over 100 hours.. possibly more over the past 5 years on and off and never passed my test

I started in a manual car and couldn't get the hang of the gears.. until the day before my test the driving instructor told me very rudely in a horrible voice that he doesn't know why the **** I am not learning in an Automatic :eek:. I asked him what he meant and he told me there wasn't a clutch - I was so excited I switched immediately to Auto... did a week in Blackpool on a crash course ... failed... to another few tests again and failed !

Last driving test I had I didn't get any minors but got 1 big dangerous - of course I failed


So, I need to drive desperately and have bitten the bullet and booked 10 sessions with the BSM beginning Friday!!

Is it the name with them that sells or the quality of their training?! At £20 a lesson providing you book 10 at a time.. at a saving of £40 - it is cheaper than any other independent school.

I have to pass or I will crack up as I live miles from anywhere - if I could drive I would spend less time on MSE!!!

Inactive

Cheap is not best, you are buying a service, not a tin of beans.

An independant Driving Instructor with a good local reputation is always your best bet.

BSM usually employ trainee or newly qualified instructors, those that are any good soon start up on their own.

iwanttosave_2

I'm currently looking at driving lessons, I'm mainly going off personal reccomendations on what the driving instructor is like, but also their pass rate. Have you asked there what the pass rate is?

Don't get too disheartened, my friend has only just past her test on her 6th time, she is a fine driver, just rubbish in a test situation.

Inactive

iwanttosave wrote: »

Don't get too disheartened, my friend has only just past her test on her 6th time, she is a fine driver, just rubbish in a test situation.

How do you know that?...

Mips

The BSM has a fantastic record - my independent driving instructor told me he didn't go with them because the franchise was so expensive and he would have had to have passed several more exams to be qualified enough to be with them.

This is why I have ditched him and want to go with the BSM. I am just hoping I am doing the right thing. I had got used to my instructor.

I want to pass so much the fact that I can't is actually making me feel low. Being able to drive would be the solution to all of my problems. Sad hey?

I wanttosave - I am not good in test situations as I get anxious.

I have heard that it looks good when you turn up for a test in a BSM car - I am not sure how much truth there is in this, which is why I started the thread

Mips

Inactive wrote: »

How do you know that?...

When you do mock tests and you don't even get minors and are consistent with your driving.

Yet fail miserable on lame things whilst on a test.

That is a big clue that you don't cope well with the test situation

Buttercup.x

I am with a driving school called Apollo at £18.95 an Hour my instructor is GREAT very patient with me id of slapped myself by now if i was him lol

Inactive

Dippychick wrote: »

The BSM has a fantastic record - my independent driving instructor told me he didn't go with them because the franchise was so expensive and he would have had to have passed several more exams to be qualified enough to be with them.

This is why I have ditched him and want to go with the BSM. I am just hoping I am doing the right thing. I had got used to my instructor.


I have heard that it looks good when you turn up for a test in a BSM car - I am not sure how much truth there is in this, which is why I started the thread

Your original instructor probably wasn't even qualified if he told you that..:rolleyes:

No truth whatsoever in the BSM car theory I'm afraid, quite the opposite I would guess.

Trust me, find a good local qualified instructor with a good reputation, ask them which grade of ADI Competence they hold.

cajef

Dippychick wrote: »

my independent driving instructor told me he didn't go with them because the franchise was so expensive and he would have had to have passed several more exams to be qualified enough to be with them.

If that is what your instructor has told you he is talking a load of rubbish.

I was a driving instructor who worked for BSM and as an independent and can assure you all ADI's have to pass the same examination with the DSA before they are allowed to teach whether they work for a driving school or themselves, the only exceptions are when they are training when they are allowed to teach under supervision for a maximum of 6 months and if they do not qualify within that period they are then banned until they pass the final examination.

All ADI's are graded from 1 to 6 and are recalled by the DSA for a check test and regraded every four years, anyone falling below grade four has to retake the part three ability to instruct exam and if they cannot improve their grade will have their licence to instruct removed until they can reach the minimum grade 4 standard, there are grade 4 to 6 instructors with BSM just the same as with independent instructors.

BSM has an excellent driving instructor training school, the majority of instructors train with them and they are offered guaranteed employment, some instructors stay with them others leave and go independent.

Just as in all jobs there are good and bad instructors both with the driving schools and independents, that is why I always tell people that recommendations are the best way to find an instructor, if that is not possible and someone books lessons on spec. and they are not happy with the instructor or his instruction, don't think they have to persevere with him, change instructor, they should remember they are the customer, that also applies to the driving schools, BSM will allocate another instructor if someone is not happy and asks for a change or if you know a good instructor that works for BSM you can ask for that instructor.

It does not matter whether you take your driving test in a Mini or a Rolls the examiner is only interested in your driving not your car, driving school or instructor.

Inactive

Dippychick wrote: »

When you do mock tests and you don't even get minors and are consistent with your driving.

Yet fail miserable on lame things whilst on a test.

That is a big clue that you don't cope well with the test situation

I meant, how do you know she is a " fine driver " when you cannot drive.

Nobody fails on " lame things " on a Driving Test.

They fail because their driving hasn't reached the required standard.