That's it, finished work yesterday, the wife will be unchained from the computer and we can both feel sorry for ourselves because we have colds.
Hoping now that all the people I told to call back in January do, have a very empty dairy, could have fitted the first week into one day, but that's what happens when everyone wants to take their test for Christmas.
This year, one pupil failed their test first time, could have claimed 100%  pass rater, two zero faults passes and one very scary moment.
Student complained I was over instructing , so I sat back, a little longer than I should, when I eventually moved we missed a parked car by centimeters. His answer, with a 4x4 coming towards us he didn't think there was enough room so decided it would be safer to crash into the parked car than the 4x4?
Happy Christmas and All the Very Best for 2015 to everyone  who have, commented and plussed my ramblings.
Take Care

Very Well Done Chloe Critchlow. First time pass with ZERO faults. Yes that is good, we instructors like to boast about students getting Zero faults. 

Had pupils from other instructors over the years and they all come with the same idea, you have to watch the rev counter so you know when to change gear.
When it gets to whatever change into 2nd, then at  ? 3rd, they all spend more time watching the rev counter than looking where they are going.
I get student to their test as soon as possible, with just one more test to go this year they have all, apart from one,  been first time  passes  with low faults. None have been taught to use the rev counter.

First time pass. Well Done Rebecca Edge, shouldn't say I'm sorry to lose her but I am. She's never missed a lesson, from the very first  lesson she was determined to listen and learn to get to her test as quickly as possible and it showed, she passed with just 3 minors.
Just a small thing Rebecca, one of your minors was for????
Remember you were a learner once!!!!!! tut tut..

Should be putting up a photo now saying 'passed first time'.
My first fail this year, was hoping for something I'd never done in all my 14 years and have a year without any fails.

From my Facebook page.

Green School of Motoring

21 hrs · 

Goodbye Amy Russell, Amy passed her test then last night did the last of her Pass Plus. Now you really are a SAFE DRIVER stay that way.
You can still keep in touch with us on F/B where you will get all the latest information from the local police very much like the bit below. 
Good Luck for the future and be safe.

Top of Form

19 people reached

Boost Post

Green School of Motoring I remember the bet. I won!!

·         

Donna Riley That paragraph is a credit to you Sean and your skills .well done Amy x

·         

Amy Russell What can I say? It's been one hell of a ride! July 2013 I sat in Clio and embarked on a journey. There's been laughs, bets, dogs in the road, wazzacks on the road and plenty of stories. You taught me an invaluable life skill and I am so proud that I have done it. Thank you so much for everything Sean. Sad that it's over but ready to take on the world! Take care x

Like · Reply · 1 · 

Passed students pay attention, a certain insurance company has launched a new telematics  policy enabling young and inexperienced drivers to save on their insurance cost. Its a 'black box' installed in your car which provided feedback via a web based dashboard or mobile.

Drivers who notch up positive driving style scores also earn quarterly cash on a pre-loaded visa debit card.

After speaking to a young man whom I told you about a short while back he thinks the 'black box' is great. That's coming from a 20 year old not your old fuddy duddy instructor who's always going on about 'safe driving'.

Give it some thought, yea!

Had to turn down a young man because he's not available when I am. He thinks his instructor is ripping him off, he's had 40 hours, not done any maneuvers or emergency stop. Been on the easiest roundabout in the world, (slip road off to the first exit) once. Said he's fed up of driving the same route every week!
I get mine to do a 'turn in the road' on perhaps their third lesson. Admitted it's more me than them, but they leave that lesson thrilled to bits ready to inform all their mates why it isn't called a three point turn. The lad has passed his Theory and wants another instructor to assess him. I agree with his thinking.

Two phone calls this week and I had to decline them both.
No.1 "I've had six hours of lessons, passed my Theory yesterday and booked my test but my instructor has let me down" Can't think why.
No.2. 10pm "Do you teach in Ashton?" Yes. "I'd like to speak to the instructor" Can't disturb me watching Montelbano so my wife asked for a number so I could call her today. She noticed it was an Oldham number, out of my area and questioned it.  "I want to take my test in Ashton because I've been to Failsworth 8 times and they don't like me and my friend said the testers at Failsworth are crap."

Amy Russell my ex-pupil  passed her driving test against all odd, a few weeks ago, the day after her Nan who she was very close to died suddenly.
She  has just won a £100 shopping voucher in "Safe Driving for Life's"  PASSFACE competition.
Well Done Amy.

Another first time pass, well done Chelsea Street

Just turned down a new pupil, wanted hourly lessons for his wife at 7.30am. I explained I don't start until 9.30 that way pupils are having to sit in the rush hour traffic.
He said he booked and paid for 3 hours  first  lesson free, with a chap who runs a Nationwide school,  but the instructor didn't turn up. When he complained they said it would take 9 weeks for them to look into it.

Nearly at the end of another year, my 14th and I still haven't learned anything. Because I'm old and lazy I probably only work part time compared to you young fit instructors. But as in every New Year I'll start with more gaps than pupils because I let them all take their test before Christmas instead of doing what a lot of instructors do and make sure I have work to come back to in the New Year. 
Think when they all pass that will be half of my work gone.

I find this time of the year ideal for teaching an emergency stop. I know a nice quiet, wide road that is always covered in fallen wet leaves. They have all been warned about the dangers of wet leaves when discussing emergency stops whatever the season.
They are all under the impression we instructors just like to talk and tell stories, until that is, they do their first emergence stop on wet leaves. After their first skid the comment is usually,  "That was scary, didn't believe you it would do that."
I take great joy reply, "See it's not just because I like the sound of my own voice."
Eventually we are able to bring the car to a stop safely and they go and tell their mates about about the skidding they've been doing, not about how they are able not to skid.

For the last 14 years I've made it clear that I am happy to give advice to parents who want to give their child extra tuition. I tell the pupil when I think they are safe to go out with the parent.
For the first time ever just lost two pupils in the same week as dad  is now taking over their teaching because I said they were safe to go out with dad!

For the last 14 years I've made it clear that I am happy to give advice to parents who want to give their child extra tuition. I tell the pupil when I think they are safe to go out with the parent.
For the first time ever just lost two pupils in the same week as dad  is now taking over their teaching because I said they were safe to go out with dad!

Must be a shortage of instructors in Greater Manchester this week. Monday, text 'Have taxi test tomorrow will have 1 lesson before' Followed by two calls I ignored.
Tuesday, '8am phone call,  'My instructor ill and my test 2.30' the wife told him his instructor should sort something for him.
Thursday, 8.15am, sensible sounding young lady, test tomorrow but would also like a 1 hour lesson today.
Does anyone take on these people?

What time would you phone a driving instructor to inquire about lessons?
Think 11.55pm is too late? Noooooo.
When the phone rings just before midnight it has to be a family emergency not someone informing you that they are on the website and want to know the price of lessons.
Had I answered it I would have been tempted to tell them the prices are on the website, now get lost.
Still doesn't beat a text a few years ago about 3am, fortunately my mobile was down stairs and switched off.

What time would you phone a driving instructor to inquire about lessons?
Think 11.55pm is too late? Noooooo.
When the phone rings just before midnight it has to be a family emergency not someone informing you that they are on the website and want to know the price of lessons.
Had I answered it I would have been tempted to tell them the prices are on the website, now get lost.
Still doesn't beat a text a few years ago about 3am, fortunately my mobile was down stairs and switched off.

Just realised that apart from a couple, all my pupils are students. Should have booked a holiday for next week as they are all back at college from Tuesday and no one knows what their time table is so none can book.
If only I'd been born with brains.

This is why I teach in a petrol driven car instead of getting more miles to the gallon with a diesel.  When I qualified I decided on petrol because when teenagers get their first car it won't be a diesel.
Over the years picking up student from other instructors they've struggled for a time adapting to petrol. Now as a recommendation from students, I taken out, just for one lesson,  two young men who have passed their test, bought a petrol car but keep stalling because they were taught to lift the clutch completely before applying gas.
Surely we should be teaching in the type of cars pupils are going to get when they pass.

PLEASE PAY ATTENTION 

My instructor licence expires at the end of this month August. I applied for my CRB check the beginning of July. My last renewal took about 2 week therefore two weeks ago I decided to telephone and check the progress only to discover I didn't exist.
Had to go through the whole process again, with time counting down to the end of the month I called again today to be told it would probably take until the end of September.
Spoke to the MSA and was told to go ahead with renewing my licence on line. The next problem, I still have my old paper licence so I have to send requested details  to the DVLA who will send me a password and such in 10 to 14 days enabling me to apply for my instructor licence.
Cancellations and holiday meant I wasn't working this morning so have spent four wasted hours trying to speak to someone at the DVSA. The only work 8 till 12. Looks like I'm out of work in a couple of week.
Advice for the MSA, apply 6 months in advance.

In the last couple of months I've had three ladies in their late 60's wanting refresher lessons. The reason, their husbands friends are dying!
All competent drivers who would have benefited from perhap just two 1½ hour drives. Hardest part was convincing them they no longer needed me.

Be aware if you're looking to renew your instructor licence...............

I need to renew mine at the end of August, applied early July on line for CRB check. Waited a week for the email to arrive which was suppose to take a couple of days. 
Did it again, still nothing, yesterday I telephoned, guess what? I don't exist, never heard of me nor have the received the emails I've sent.
However, after giving them my email address, the forms arrived within an hour. Had to do it this way as if the sent them by post it would take a week for them to arrive.
Guess what arrived in the post this morning? Yes the forms that would take a week arrived within 24 hours.
The forms say it will take 'several' weeks to complete my CRB check, I can only hope that several, in this case means within four before my instructor licence expires.

Second week this year without and cancellations, must admit since having a clear out I'm just getting the odd one.
Even better as from this evening letting the wife move away from the computer for a week! We are doing a Med cruise, none alcoholic Orange Sunrise,  we do like a drink but these drinks really are nice. Eggy quasants for afternoon tea and hopefully hot sunshine.
One downside, she says I've got to do something about exercise after the holiday. Being a lazy person not happy about that. She'll have me using the computer next

27/06/2014
Congratulations to  Mark Lowe.
Mark passed his driving test first time today with only 3 minors.
Well Done. Remember you have been taught to be a safe driver and once again we steal Greater Manchester  Police's favorite.
NoneForTheRoad
Stay Safe.
Why the photo of the boss and not Mark?
He didn't want his photo taken

Just got a text which says. 

"Need automatic car for driving test Monday 16th. 8.10am. Rasheed"

Hope he finds one, obviously some nasty instructor has said he's not ready for his test but he's booked one anyway.
Wonder what happens to these people because I don't know of one instructor who will take them on?

From my Facebook page.

Simon Ryan Shaw

9 hours ago

Anyone that is looking to do their driving lessons, go with Sean Green, relaxed approach, easy to get on with, pass quickly and more importantly first time!! Been a pleasure learning to drive with you! Thank you Sean.

UnlikeUnlike ·  · Share

Thanks Simon, wish I could accept all the praise, you did all the work I just guided you along.
Good Luck for the future.

Well done Simon. Passed first time with just 1 minor.
Simon is a good example of someone who wanted to learn to drive and pass quickly in a short time. He never cancelled, he wanted to be there and get on with it.
Wish everyone showed the same determination.
I enjoyed teaching you.
Drive Safely.
Sean

Nora here.
No moans this week, just 3 hours £60 cancelled. That amount coming out of your wage isn't nice but when you consider just recently with more cancels than work it's good.
Thank you to the student just back from holiday who got BOTH Sean and I a pressy. Thank you that's the first time ever.
Don't mind his students buying him presents providing it's not chocolate, I spend my life on a diet and I get really upset when he leaves the chocolate on his coffee table for days and days where I'm constantly having to walk passed. It's heart breaking........

Just finished my books for week 8 and in spite of telling three pupils to find another instructor, in 8 weeks 42 hours have been cancelled.  
Mortgage paid off and apart from not having to work at all, we just want to be able to afford two holidays per year. So I suppose you could say I work part time as anything over 25 hours a week is a bonus. 
Imagine if I worked the hours other instructor did the amount of cancellations they'd be able to wrack up.

Well done Rebecca Edge passing your Theory/Hazard Perception.
You do realise that with a score of 50 out of 50 in your Theory next time I ask a question, "don't know/can't remember" isn't allowed. 

Is it just in the Greater Manchester area or nationwide where pupils cancel? Talking to other instructors we are all struggling. A good example, first lesson today 9.30, a referral who has been waiting for a space. 
I always get there with five minutes to spare and sit around the corner so I'm not late. 9.25 I get a text, "woke up ill" 
Good start to a first lesson, won't see him again because I've told him he has to pay for today.
Tuesday is my first working day and so far I've lost 7 hours this week.

Something nice for a change. Bought a long arm staples from Staples years ago, been playing up for ages and today I (Sean wife) finally decided to do something. Rather than just buy a new one I asked them to look at it in case I was using the wrong staples. They took it away and gave me a new one for free! How's that for service?
Went mad and bought a new keyboard and mouse, Sean doesn't have any excuse for now using it now this one has letters written on the keys!

Got a phone call a couple of hours ago, very well spoken young lady. "Could you send an instructor to take me for my driving test tomorrow?" My wife explained that we didn't have any spaces to which she replied.
 " I don't want a lesson, just enough time to take my test."
Monday is my day off, but if I was desperate for work the answer would have been the same. But surely no one in their right mind, would expect an instructor to turn up , without even the hour before and take a stranger for their test?
I find I'm asking myself time and again. Is it me? 

Remember the pupil who at the end of the lesson last week told me he couldn't pay because they had to pay the kitchen fitters?  
He got a phone call on Bank Holiday Sunday from his college saying he had to go in at the time of his lesson this week.
Won't now get back the £19 for the lesson  but at least someone else  can have him. The daft thing is when his mum initially phoned I had a full diary but she kept phoning and phoning till eventually she asked to go on a waiting list and waited until I could fit him in!
Doesn't make sense to me.

Insurance.
Was asked yesterday about 'Fronting'  Fronting is, you as a newly qualified driver buys a car and on the insurance, names a parent as the main driver to make it cheaper.
There are a few reasons why it isn't a good idea,
1: It's illegal and as you are the main driver it could invalidate your insurance. The police are wise to it and are very good at asking just the right questions to trip you up.
2: While that parent is named as the main driver you are not building up your no claim bonus  which will eventually make your insurance cheaper.

What I would advise instead is, shop around for insurance, driving instructors have access to insurance companies who specialise in new drivers insurance.

When you do apply for your insurance, if your mum is a driver put her down as a named driver. Mums are good people and will help slightly to lower your insurance premium.

Another option which is becoming more popular is the 'black box' more insurers are offering to fit this to your vehicle, don't know if it's free, but it monitors your driving to determine your premium. The more careful you are the cheaper your insurance.

And finally, don't do what I did when I bought my second car, went to insure it and discovered it cost more than I'd paid for the car. Didn't know that a 'twin carbs' job made it almost a racing car. The chap at the insurance place said. "Never buy a car without checking the insurance cost first."
Remember that.

Thought you would like to meet The Boss

Help for Parents. 
On my website I have a page explaining  that if a parent is giving extra tuition I will help them at no extra cost, all I ask is that they phone me in the evening after I've finished teaching.
Some do and their son/daughter fly through lessons because they are teaching the same as I do, others know better.
You always indicate when you stop on the left, you always indicate if you're passing a parked car. On approach to a  mini roundabout you don't have to stop just drive right across, on approach to a normal roundabout you must always stop even if it's clear.
One father about my age argued that his instructor many years ago taught him to release the steering wheel after turning as the car would right itself.
There is also some confusion as to the difference between solid white road marking and broken white road marking.
Could go on for ever.

Rob Cooling got a mug for a present from a grateful pupil, I can go one better.
Well not really, a 45 year old pupil passed a couple of weeks ago then handed me £50. I reminded him he's already paid. £40 for two hours, then he explained. His previous instructor told him, he would need 45 hours because of his age, on top of that a further 44 hours as the DSA advised providing he could get someone to take him out for 20 or so hours extra.
He decided he was too old to learn and packed in for a few weeks, then came to me.
Can't remember how many lesson he had but he picked it up easily and passed in a couple of months, hence the £50 tip.
I wouldn't want a mug because my wife is the most experienced special mug/glass breaker there is. 

1

Just discovered some information that I think most instructors aren't aware of. Therefore I thought I'd better educate you all!!!!!!!!
Somewhere in the Highway Code, somewhere we're not aware of, it says that you only have to indicate (you know those orangy flashing lights some cars have) when you are joining a main road.
I've noticed that on back streets people who don't indicate, do so when joining a main road. 
So many people act this way we instructors are obviously missing something.

During yesterday I saw three different instructors, would love to name them, with pupils.
From their position, looking down, I would say they were obviously texting and not paying any attention whatsoever to the pupil.
The sad thing is that pupils think it's o.k. my pupils will often say, "you can get that" if my phone rings.
Yet they all agree they would not want to sit at the side of the road while I took phone calls.
We need more traffic police.
That's my rant of the day!!!!

Just read an article that starts:-
You might think that motorists driving cars on our roads have a modicum of intelligence...........
Obviously not written by a driving instructor because they would know that isn't true. But according to  new research by Kwik Fit.
9% of drivers didn't know that an MOT certificate was a legal requirement for cars over three years old.
10% did not realise that a valid tax disc was compulsory.
And that 1 in 10 were under the impression that insurance was optional. 
This can't be true can it? But after saying that North West Motorway Police take an average of 10 cars off the road daily. 
Scary isn't it.

4/3/2014
WEll DONE Terry, first time pass with only 2 minors.
Terry was so nervous I told him my key ring was a lucky Chinese charm, a present from a student who passed last week and that he had to rub it. All perfectly true, even more so apparently.
Thank You Terry for the present, I enjoyed teaching you.
Drive Safely.

Well Done Stephen, another first time pass with Green School of Motoring. Look forward to teaching you wife.

Drive safely.

Well done Lisa Wright passing your driving test with only 4 minors
Be safe

After me rant about mobile three pupils agreed with my
From my F/B page.

Kayliegh Mozer Well i agree with you sean and it's their loss. My first driving instructor spent more time answering his phone and texting than concentrating on teaching me to drive. Needless to say i had no confidence in him as an instructor and he lost my custom. I appreciate the fact that you don't answer your phone and concentrate on teaching me 

Unlike · Reply · 1 · 5 hours ago

Phone calls during driving lessons

Is it o.k. for an instructor answer his mobile during a driving lesson? Apparently it is. Got a call yesterday about 10.50/55am, the lesson finished 11am pupil gone, I checked my voice mail. A lady wanted to book some lessons for her son.
Got my wife to call her, text from my wife before the next lesson started at 11.30 which said the lady had gone else where. When my wife called the lady her answer was, "She'd gone with someone who answers the phone ."
I make it clear on the web site and everywhere that I do not answer the phone during your lesson time and to phone the home number. Quite often when my phone rings a pupil will say something like, "You can answer that."
I know these days it appears acceptable to answer your phone, have/continue a conversation where ever you are or whatever you're doing. I'm an old fuddy duddy and don't believe it is. 

The moral of this little rant is, you have paid me for a one hour driving lesson, five minutes into your lesson my mobile rings so I get you to park at the side of the road and spend the next twenty minutes or so, of your paid for time, trying to persuade someone to book a driving lesson with me. You think that's acceptable?

Show less

1

If you think your Instructor is acting inappropriately.

First lesson yesterday with a new pupil, she had had five hours with another instructor from a large school. She left because he just wanted to talk about his sex life? 


Told her to phone the office and complain. We all have to go through a Criminal Records Check which obviously wouldn't pick up on something like this. Young, old, male or female, if for whatever reason you don't feel safe or uncomfortable with your instructor you are never going to learn to drive.

If you are really concerned for your safety then get in touch with the DSA and tell them about your concern and they should investigate that instructor.

Expect the unexpected.
Had to cancel the last lesson last night because of snow then half an hour later torrential rain, what snow?
Strong winds tonight, had to stop the lesson after the first hour. Think the pupil on only his second lesson, was a bit nervous when part of a roof appeared in front of the car. 
I like to think I teach my pupils to be able to deal with lots of surprises 
first time that has happened!

From my Face Book Page

Amy Russellposted to‎Sean Green

January 16 near Stalybridge

Students of Sean Green, heed my warning!!! If Sean says you have gone too far back in the parallel park manoeuvre, YOU HAVE GONE TOO FAR BACK! Do not try and prove him wrong, do not bet a fiver, you will lose that fiver. (In my defence, I did manage to squeeze the car in the evening before when Sean said I had gone too far back but, clearly, you can only fluke once people!). Well played Mr Green, well played.

Unlike · 

• You, Jennie Graham and Annette Harrison like this.
•