Achieving a full diary is difficult enough for Nottingham driving instructors. When you are trying hard to build up your reputation and it can be a very depressing experience when pupils decide to leave for no apparent reason. In this article we will look at some of the reasons pupils leave and what you can do to keep them.
Driving Heartache – Why do Pupils Leave?
It can be a nervous time for a driving instructor who is newly qualified and just starting out or a potential driving instructor working on a trainee licence. Achieving a full diary is difficult enough when you are trying hard to build up your reputation and it can be a very depressing experience when pupils decide to leave for no apparent reason. In this article we will look at some of the reasons pupils leave and what you can do to keep them.
The main thing at first is not to take it personally. This is a business after all and people do not really have any personal loyalty to their driving instructor. Even an experienced instructor will inevitably lose a pupil now and again. One thing you can do is actually contact the pupil to ask why. Most people do not like to complain directly but if you can solve the issue you might retain the business. In a pressure situation like learning to drive it is easy for instruction to be misinterpreted as criticism and it may be something as simple as this. Always try to keep instruction friendly and positive and you will keep this to a minimum. Talking through the problem now may also save you a bad internet review later which can be deadly in this game.
Pricing of driving lessons is another reason for pupils to swap schools. At the moment the market is totally driven by ridiculous special offers. A first set of lessons is usually done at a loss in order to make money back on a full course. You will have to make some sort of offer to remain competitive but try to make it longer term, say over ten lessons. In this time you should be able to establish rapport with your pupil and keep them. Practically giving away the first three lessons runs a high risk of pupils jumping ship straight to another offer with a different driving school.
Choose a reasonable car as your tuition vehicle. Remember it is a driving school car first. Don't choose a large car so it will double as the family runaround. A car that is too large will make pupils feel scared whereas a car that is too small will put off larger pupils if they are uncomfortable. Not liking the tuition car is a common reason for pupils to leave.
The very basics must be in place. If you are late call ahead as nobody likes to be kept waiting without explanation and try not to be late for the same pupil twice. You will get a reputation for being unreliable. Also keep personal talk to a minimum. A pupil is not a friend, colleague or marriage counsellor that you can reveal everything to. The pupil has paid for your time to teach, not to advise you and try to sort your life out. Let the pupil set the agenda for conversation and respond to that. Being too personal is another reason pupils leave, keep your hands to yourself as friendly gestures are often taken the wrong way.
There, just be businesslike, friendly and professional and there's no reason why you shouldn't keep all your pupils happy.
Driving Instruction Check Test Criteria – Risk Management
The test of continued fitness to instruct is changing for driving instructors in order to take a more client centred approach. This replaces a system which placed importance on fault finding and demands more direct pupil involvement. Risk management is a main topic in the new version of the test so let's take a look at this.
Teaching Roundabouts on Driving Lessons
Today's roads feature some very busy and complex roundabouts. Multi lane roundabouts with multiple junctions and tight mini roundabouts occur in close proximity to each other. These environments demand a wide range of driving skills. Let's look at what driver trainers need to teach regarding roundabouts.
What are Traffic Light Workshop Schemes?
When a motorist fails to stop at a red light they may opt to take a traffic light workshop course. This replaces endorsement points and a fine. The course is designed to make motorists aware of the danger of failing to stop at red traffic lights and hopefully change driver behaviour.
