From training call centre employees to instructing pupils how to drive, ADI Alison Nolan has proven she has a natural gift for teaching.
Founder of Alison’s Driving School in Sittingbourne, Kent, the former call centre operator-turned-ADI has been instructing since 2008, first as part of a franchise before striking out on her own and becoming a successful independent instructor.
What was the inspiration for becoming an ADI? In 2007, I was working in a call centre where as well as taking customer calls, I taught new staff members how to use our in-house computer system. After a while I realised how much I liked teaching and helping people, so when I saw an advert in the paper to train to be a driving instructor, I decided to do some research.
Initially, I decided that the cost to train was too much and left it another 14 months before I thought about it again. This time, my husband and I decided that I should do the training. It took me a year to train as I was also working full-time at the call centre. I finally passed my part 3 exam in August 2008 and started a franchise with a large driving school at the beginning of September 2008.
Was there anything you learnt from your previous career that informs how you teach as an ADI? I do believe that helping people to learn at the call centre helped me to realise my potential to become an instructor and as I love to drive, I decided to put the two things together and teach people how to drive!
What were the benefits of being part of a major franchise and why did you go solo? Initially, working for a major franchise was the best way forward for me, as they supplied me with the vehicle and all the advertising, and they also had a pupil introduction scheme which allowed me to get started as soon as possible. I continued with the franchise for two years before deciding to go independent as the franchise costs had become quite high. I realised that leasing my own vehicle would virtually halve my costs therefore allowing me to earn more in the long run.
What were the main issues you faced going solo and how did you overcome them? It was quite tough going independent initially as I had to find my own pupils. After a while I started to get recommendations and the work slowly built up but I needed to do more. I printed some special offer vouchers and did a leaflet drop in my local area. This got me two pupils straight away and then a few more booked lessons as birthday or Christmas presents. My work now comes mostly from recommendations with a few people calling as they’ve seen my car and some have found my website on Google. I get quite a lot of work from people wanting a female instructor.
My business has gone from strength to strength over the last few years as I am now a well established name in instructor circles within my local area. I would like to continue the business and perhaps start teaching automatic lessons as well.
How would you describe your teaching style? My teaching has developed a lot over the years. I try to make the lessons fun while also getting across the importance of safety; I focus very much on the issue of safety throughout the entire learning process while teaching key issues in stages. I find this works best as it allows the pupil to think about one thing at a time until they are able to put the whole process together. Although we have a set curriculum, I tend to teach things according to what I feel will benefit the pupil the most on each lesson. If they don’t get it straight away, I explain things in a different way, which works 99% of the time.
What’s your favourite and least favourite part of the job? My favourite part is when the examiner tells my pupil they have passed their test! The look of joy on their faces is awesome and I feel that we have reached our goal together. It’s amazing to see them on the road in their own cars after they have passed too. The worst part is the amount of traffic on the road and the attitude of a small minority of other drivers who seem to have forgotten that they were once learners themselves!
What’s been your biggest professional learning experience and why? Over the years, I have learnt that everyone has a different learning style and I need to adapt my teaching to fit in with each individual learner. If they find something challenging, I try to explain and demonstrate it in a different way. I also ask them how they feel about what they’re doing and what are they thinking about at each stage of the lesson; giving them this opportunity to tell me what they think really helps them to work out the best way to deal with any problem.
Finally, as a long term user of Theory Test Pro, how do you find the system helps your students? Giving my pupils access to Theory Test Pro helps us to work together in our own time and if they get the answers wrong, the site is very good at offering an explanation of the correct answer. Pupils also have the opportunity to practice everything they need to pass – including the Hazard Perception – in whichever way that works best for them. By topic, by quick test or by full mock test, everything is in one place for them.