Continual Professional Development (CPD)

At the present time, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is examining better ways of monitoring and developing the performance and abilities of all Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs). They currently evaluate instructors by periodically testing them either via a role-play driving lesson, or by sitting in on an actual driving lesson with a pupil, and marking their overall performance. This is called a ‘check test’, and is scheduled according to the individual performance of each instructor. In other words, poorly performing instructors are tested more often than those who meet or exceed the criteria laid down by the DSA for the standard required to teach pupils correctly. If any instructor fails to meet an acceptable level of competency within three check tests, they may well be removed from the ADI register, and this means that they can no longer legally ask for renumeration for their teaching services, and their ADI badge will be rendered invalid. They would then have to go through the whole re-qualification process again!
Needless to say, this test should be motivation enough for instructors to maintain a high standard of teaching, but in this constantly changing environment in which we live, the DSA now wish to further enhance our standards of overall ability by imposing CPD. It is currently a voluntary process, but it is likely that it will become compulsory in the near future.

CPD encompasses a multitude of disciplines and testing procedures, and all instructors who join CDS will continue their pursuit of training excellence to ensure that we maintain the highest standard of teaching for our pupils. Examples of the various qualifications which can be gained are: -

Cardington Special Driving Test
Details can be found at the link below: -
http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/

Diploma in Driving Instruction (Dip.DI) , Fleet Trainer etc
Details can be found at the link below: -
http://www.driving.org/professionalqualifications.html

RoSPA Advanced Driving Test
Details can be found at the link below: -
http://www.rospa.com/drivertraining/courses/advanced_tests/car.htm

We have incorporated this page into the site in order that you can observe, over time, the progress and dates when new qualifications are attained. As our primary task is to satisfy our pupils, this advancement must, of course, occur when time permits outside normal hours of tuition!!