What is a Fully Intensive course?

A course designed for those who are   trying to pass quickly, for instance if you have a deadline of say 4 weeks and would like 7 hours or more a week.

What is the difference between a fully intensive course and a semi intensive course?

Semi intensive courses are priced as standard when someone has more than the standard 2 hours per week but less than 7 hours a week.

Someone taking more than 7 hours a week is therefore having more lessons in a shorter timescale and lesson prices reflect this.

Prices for a fully intensive course include the practical test fee, which is given for free providing you pass first time and all lessons are taken within the time frame agreed at the start of the course. Additional lessons if needed to reach test standard as deemed by the instructor are charged at the standard hourly rate.

For all fully intensive courses you will have either 1.5 hours tuition a day or 3 hours tuition every day (2 x 1.5 hours) leading up to your practical test.
For example - If you take our 30 hour, 2 week course. You would do 2 x 1.5 hour sessions everyday for 10 days spread over 2 weeks - Total 30 Hours.

When can lessons be taken?

Evenings and weekends available on request but subject to availability.

Prices

Prices all including a free 1st test:
7.5 hours - 1 week £226
15 hours - 1 week or 2 weeks £361
22.5 hours - 3 weeks £511
30 hours - 2 weeks £631
45 hours - 3 weeks £898

Ultimately the structure of the course will be decided between you and the instructor to best suit your needs. Please enquire for further details.

Driving test fees

Driving test fees effective from 5 October 2009

It looks like today is the real start to the cold winter weather. The fog has certainly come in over Nottingham. Its a good chance for people to learn in all kinds of weather conditions and gain more driving experience.

An  unfortunate side of learning to drive in the summer has always been the weather. If it stays fairly dry and sunny in summer it's important to teach people the theory of driving in poor conditions. Venus don't shy away from teaching in frosty snowy and icy condition's as long as they have had enough driving practice prior to this so they have reasonably good control over the car and can therefore be taught safely. If the weather conditions are far too dangerous for an uneccessary journey or the pupil is not at the required standard, (is struggling with car control in good conditions) then Venus will arrange another suitable lesson time.

Last year although there was snow for about a week we managed to keep most lessons at the arranged time and taught pupils some really valuable skills. Maybe this year it will even be a white Christmas!

On another note, the problems we were experiencing with the website and email have now been fixed. Please have a look. We can be contacted via email: info@venusdrivertraining.com

Karen at Venus

Unfortunately it has been one of those days, when things don't seem to go right.

I have been experiencing problems with the Venus email account all day. This evening the Venus website is playing up as well!

Sorry to anyone who has been browsing the site today and had problems with pages and pictures loading. I am aware of this problem and I am doing my best to get it fixed asap.

Oh well at least it didn't rain today, that makes a change!

I received the latest despatch DSA magazine for road safety professionals today it contains an important update for all driving instructors and driving test candidates.

Here is a summary:

Observer on test:

In August Despatch updated instructors on the Learning to Drive programme, including a proposal to require candidates to have an observer on test from October 2010.   The proposal generated a lot of debate and after meetings with the ADI consultative groups the DSA have decided not to make it compulsory.

Instead of making   an observer on all tests compulsory the DSA have decided instead that examiners will ask candidates at the start of the test if they want their driving instructor or another observer (who could be a parent, guardian or friend who has accompanied them to the test centre) and is preferably the person who taught them to drive to sit in. Examiners will then ask candidates if they want their instructor present for the test result and debrief.

The DSA believes that this allows candidates to take advantage of all the opportunities available to support their ongoing learning and development, but leaves the final decision with them.

The views of Venus Driver Training:

I agree with the new approach taken by the DSA. Previously in order to sit in on a test the candidate had to ask the examiners permission. Of course this was always answered with a yes. Many pupils I have taught in the past believe that having their instructor in the car during the test would cause them to feel added pressure. This is understandable, however there are many advantages to having an instructor present. As an instructor that is present at each debrief I have sometimes found it difficult to visualize the mistake that was made and the circumstances leading to it. When I am in the car I can see exactly what is happening and understand why a fault has been recorded, meaning I can explain this to the pupil in different terms if needed, so they in turn understand and we can then work on this weak area.

I will be encouraging Venus pupils to let me sit in on tests, however ultimately the decision remains the pupils. I will also continue to ask pupils to let me listen to the debrief at the end of the test.

Karen at Venus