PAUL THE DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

Before you consider handing over your (or someone else's!) hard-earned money for driving lessons or instructor training, I think it's only fair that you know who you're handing it over to and why they're qualified to be taking it in the first place.

So here's a quick run down of me and my background...

Qualifications:

I am Paul Harris and I have been involved in the driver training industry for most of my working life - twenty-two years and counting! After all those years I am naturally very passionate about the industry and I take great pride in my work training people of all ages, genders, cultures and backgrounds to become safe drivers and skilled driving instructors.

Over the years I have built a reputation for high quality driving tuition and I have always stood by my principals that no one should be put forward for a driving test unless they are truly ready, not just to pass the test but to drive safely on Britain's roads. You won't get any "learn to drive in a week - guaranteed pass" nonsense from me, my goals are safe drivers not a quick turnover.

All Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) are check-tested at least every few years and given a grade according to their performance. There are currently just under 47,000 ADIs in the UK and of those only 2,745 (less than 6%) are Grade 6. The majority of ADIs are Grade 4 (47%) or Grade 5 (30%) and the rest are Grades 1-3, which effectively means they require further training and re-testing.

I am therefore very proud to say I am one of the few top-grade, Grade 6 driving instructors and have been so for most of my career as an ADI.

And take a look at my last check test report sheet...

... there's probably even fewer driving instructors who can boast a 'perfect score' on their check test!!

History:

In my early years after leaving school I worked as a mechanic in my native Berkshire and carried on this trade for several years, including running my own businesses. I put away the spanners and qualified as an ADI in 1989 whilst living in West Wales and successfully established Paul's Driving Academy. In 1992 I moved with my family cross-country to Norfolk and had to start afresh and re-build Paul's Driving Academy from the ground up.

Paul's Driving Academy became a huge success over the coming years boasting a very high pass rate and getting hundreds, if not thousands, of first-time drivers on the road.

In 2003 I made a life-changing decision to take on the grueling challenge of the 4-week Cardington Driving Examiner course. It was hard going, to say the least, but I passed and had to turn my back on Paul's Driving Academy to take up a post as a DSA Driving Examiner.

From 2007 on I began concentrating my efforts on the Instructor Training side of things with Paul's Driving Instructor Training Academy and have had great success in coaching new instructors through the ADI Part 1, 2 and 3 tests.

But what can I say - old habits die hard and before long I found myself re-qualifying as an ADI and back in the learner driver training hot seat!

Which is where we are today. Paul's Driving Instructor Training Academy and the re-launched Paul's Driving Academy running side by side in perfect harmony!

Private Life:

I live in Bury St Edmunds with my wife, Sue. We have three grown up children, all of whom I taught to drive (my son is now an advanced police driver on Suffolk's Roads Policing Unit) and three grandchildren.

Away from work I enjoy playing Squash and Racketball. In the summer I love my motorbikes and have been on several trips around Europe, including Spain, France and Andorra, with friends and family. I've had several bikes but currently ride a Suzuki GSXR1300 Hayabusa. In 2009 I was talked into skiing for the first time (at the age of 52!!) and spent a week in Andorra (a fantastic place in winter and summer). I caught the winter sports bug big time and have been at least once a year since!

So that's me.

Now, back to business! To find out more...