number8driving

01/10/2026

Congratulations to our latest pupil to prove they CAN drive - a very happy El - passing FIRST TIME!

After a break from learning after COVID-19, El plucked up the courage and challenged herself to be able to drive by the end of 2026.

After I was highly recommended to El by a friend, we started learning to drive again, but this time with real understanding of the techniques, rules etc. with particular focus to know what good driving feels like, taking pride in awesome, safe driving.

El loved the way I was so calm, even when we made mistakes. She really enjoyed the fact that every lesson was insightful in many different ways, and full of positive achievements - making progress each and every week

We always took time to understand our mistakes (and other drivers mistakes too) and learn what when wrong, why, and how we might approach the situation differently next time.

Another great driver is now on the road, El loves her quirky cars, so I’ll be spotting her out and about when she finds her first car to give her the independence and freedom she has dreamt of.

Well done!

09/09/2026

Another first time driving test pass ✅ at Colwick this morning (second one this week!),

This time for Alex - who joined us earlier this year with a special lesson on his 17th birthday 🎂, and passed just under 6 months later with weekly lessons and practice with parents 🚗 - making a BIG difference!

Today’s test featured lots of unusual and difficult situations that Alex needed to independently manage - both safely and correctly. 🚚🚲🚸🚦

As with all my pupils, I have trained Alex to embrace the use of what we call ‘Commentary’. 🎤 It’s an advanced driving skill that really helps some of my pupils in a huge way. Alex used this to great effect today.

Our examiner was most impressed with the quality of Alex’s drive (and even commended the high standard of his training) - needless to say, we were both very proud of today’s result. 👏

WELL DONE 🎉

Get in touch to join us - we will have new places available later this year for you to start your driving journey. 🚙

www.number8driving.com

08/09/2026

2026 has been quite the Summer for Ollie.

From turning 17 in July to passing his driving test with flying colours 8 weeks later in September - wow!

Made possible with a lot of attention to detail, focus and dedication (especially when booking a test) by Ollie, plus a massive family team effort 👏. Organised early by Mum, taken out for plenty of quality practice with Dad, moral support from his sister, alongside a summer of high quality lessons with our fully qualified driving instructor Mike Allsopp ADI.

🗒️ Ollie particularly liked our in depth notes after each lesson enabling him to really understand the various skills he was learning and how he put those into practice.

We also had time to include some advance driving techniques, Motorway tuition, 60mph rural roads, and advanced thought processes around driver behaviour - All helping Ollie to have a lifetime of safe driving - not just passing the test.

🎉 Well done! You deserved this first time pass, all your hard work and the team effort have paid off.

📋 Our waiting list is getting longer, but apply now for new student lessons starting in December - you could be driving in 2027, get in touch today!

www.number8driving.com

05/08/2026

Congratulations to Florence 🎉 🚗

The smile on her face says it all!

A great achievement today:
MANUAL DRIVING TEST PASS

Today was the culmination of all your hard work - what a journey we have had… 🎢

You impressed the examiner with your ‘unique’ style of commentary partnered with high quality driving, making awesome anticipations and plans, then delivering those decisions with elegant car control.

You have overcome so many obstacles on the path to today’s success. Some we smashed through, others we swerved until we felt ready, but most impressive were the ones where we stopped, took time to understand, rationalise, and then asked all our useful questions to come up with a plan of how to deal with them.

I will miss your upbeat dose of positivity that you developed during our time together.

Learning to drive has given you a new found confidence to achieve so many new things in your life this year already

Whatever bumps in the road may appear in the future, I know you now have the tools to iron them out!

A VERY WELL DESERVED FIRST TIME PASS

Note: Spaces coming up in a few weeks for New Pupils to join us - www.number8driving.com

Thanks to all our outstanding pupils like Florence, Catherine, Yasmin and Jordan (all passing in the last month) our 100% 2026 pass rate continues! 💯

28/07/2026

Fantastic start to the summer break !

A very ‘well done’ to my latest student, Yasmin - passing on the first time of trying, early this morning at Colwick Driving Test Centre.

Yasmin came to me with some basic knowledge of how to drive, but struggled to fully understand all the skills, especially finding it difficult putting them together and keeping focus.

We have worked hard together to implement all these deepened, polished skills along with great observations and anticipations, to deliver well formulated plans created by our experience and the backing of good quality driving knowledge.

Yasmin particularly found that the pressure of a test allowed her to embrace two very important focus techniques that I taught her over the last few months.

Today she delivered well thought through and confident decision-making throughout her test, on a route that is quite rare to experience- very well done!

14/07/2026

👏 Congratulations Jordan! 👏

A very nice moment today - a Driving Test Pass at Nottingham East (Colwick) Driving Test Centre.

Jordan displayed a calm and consistent drive with lots of positivity and patience, using my shared ‘chapter’ technique to keep focus (especially when there was plenty of poor driving by full licence holders to distract us today).

Jordan came to me after previous instructors failed to give him the knowledge, self belief and confidence to face the driving test and its challenges.

We worked together to achieve your goal, with your focus and determination, alongside my calming, reassuring nature using my proven techniques (100% pass rate for 2026).

Amazing result for you, and your young family. Opening up new opportunities and independence - enjoy that first drive alone, it’s the start of your next chapter…

A well deserved pass by a most deserving student - you made me a proud instructor today reminding me why I enjoy this ‘job’ so much.

06/07/2026

At number8driving, we are starting another period of driving tests in the coming few weeks as our latest cohort of students finish off their training and prove they are ready to drive on their own.

Today’s big achievement is a particularly special one and involved Catherine, from Lady Bay, who contacted me late last year to start her determined journey to learn to drive. A journey that would ultimately enhance not only her work opportunities, but improve her personal independence, confidence and self belief.

We took the time to get a deep learning experience, with full understanding and knowledge to build up the personal capacity to deal with all that we face when driving.

A FIRST TIME PASS! Amazing result with a congratulations from her examiner on a very high quality drive. Very well done! 👏

If you are wanting to learn with high quality, calm and compassionate teaching, I have one space left for my October weekday intake, please get in touch.

19/03/2026

Giving the learner more responsibility for their own test might sound a good idea but it inevitably removes the flexibility of the instructor helping to book and manage tests to benefit their pupils.

At present, most pupils have to book a test when they start learning as 6 months is our average time to learn with one lesson a week.

Hopefully by next year we can book a test when learners are ready, without this unreasonable wait.

Time will tell…

We’re putting learners in control of their car driving test bookings 🚘

If you’ve got a booking or you’ll be looking for a test soon, make a note of these dates 📅

31 March 2026 – only 2 changes can be made to a booking

12 May 2026 – only learners are allowed to book a test and make changes

9 June 2026 – learners can move their booked test only to nearby centres

By changing who can book car and change driving tests, we’re aiming to reduce the re-selling of driving tests, giving the power back to learners 💪

Read more on GOV.UK 👇

https://ow.ly/uP1T50YuHaJ

18/03/2026

Well done to our student Selina from Gamston who had a very good day today and passed her driving test on her first attempt.

WE HAVE A SPACE FOR A NEW PUPIL

Visit our website www.number8driving.com or get touch now with Mike Allsopp Adi who helped Selina overcome issues to pass first time.

8 pupils, 8 tests, 8 first time passes for 2026!

CONGRATULATIONS to Selina on her test success today, overcoming 3 really common issues

🥺nerves
💭overloaded thoughts
💯the unrealistic target of absolute perfection

We implemented a number of strategies to conquer these issues in driving and life.

You executed the plan wonderfully and drove ‘good enough’ to pass the test with flying colours! To top it off the sun came out for a very enjoyable drive!

CELEBRATE 🎉your success, and I’ll see you in a month or so for PASS PLUS where we spend time on Motorways and 60mph rural roads.

18/03/2026

8 pupils, 8 tests, 8 first time passes for 2026!

CONGRATULATIONS to Selina on her test success today, overcoming 3 really common issues

🥺nerves
💭overloaded thoughts
💯the unrealistic target of absolute perfection

We implemented a number of strategies to conquer these issues in driving and life.

You executed the plan wonderfully and drove ‘good enough’ to pass the test with flying colours! To top it off the sun came out for a very enjoyable drive!

CELEBRATE 🎉your success, and I’ll see you in a month or so for PASS PLUS where we spend time on Motorways and 60mph rural roads.