About Us:

Hi.
We are Hawkwell driving school based in Hockley (Hawkwell), in Essex, not far from Rayleigh, Rochford and Southend on Sea, and we are your local professional driving school. We are owned by Alan and myself (Wendy Barker).

We understand that you want the very best value driving instruction, and that the driving tuition you receive is only as good as the individual instructor that teaches you. So we offer you excellent driving tuition by probably the most qualified and experienced driving instructor in the local area.

The area we cover is Hockley, Rochford, Ashingdon, Hullbridge, Rayleigh, Canewdon and Southend, and for your lessons we offer free, home, work, or college, pick-up.

Because we are dedicated to providing you with an excellent, and reliable service we are pleased to abide by the Driving Standards Agency Code of Practice for Approved Driving Instructors, which means that we operate in a concientious and professional manner at all time. Also because we value our customers we are members of the Driving Instructors Association with Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance. Alan has also been CRB checked as the Driving Standards Agency requires that of all Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs).

All your learner driving lessons with us will be conducted by Alan, in our dual-controlled Ford Fiesta, and you will be taught using the most current instructional methods and coaching techniques. This is to ensure that not only will you have the very best preparation to enable you to pass your driving test, but also to provide you with the resources and ability to be confident to drive anywhere after you have passed. We think it is very important to emphasize that learning to drive is not just about passing your driving test, but is also about being safe and confident on the road in all situations.

For our pupil's driving tests, since the closure of Southend test centre in December 2008, we use Clacton-on-Sea, Brentwood, Chelmsford, Tilbury,and Basildon.

Alan has written a number of pages for this site explaining what you need to know about driving lessons, the driving test, and how you can improve your driving skills. Because of his years of teaching experience, large vehicle driving experience, and advanced driving experience, he is able to not just tell you what you need to do, but how to do it. He is also able to explain in detail why certain things should be done, and how they can be achieved.

Qualifications:
Alan has been a full-time professional Driving Standards Agency (Government) Approved Driving Instructor (DSA ADI) for well over twenty five years. He qualified in August 1984 and worked for a while for the British School of Motoring (BSM) in Chelmsford. Since then he has accrued more than 20,000 hours learner driver teaching experience, and a degree in education and combined sciences.

Because Alan has always taken Continual Professional Development (CPD) seriously he has taken and passed a number of advanced driving tests (certificates below).

The Driving Instructors Association DIAmond Advanced Test, which is based on the DSA method of driving.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents ( RoSPA) Advanced Test at Gold grade (twice), and The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) Advanced Test. These tests are based on the Police "Roadcraft" method of driving, and are examined by ex-police class-one drivers.

He is also one of the very few driving instructors who has passed the Cardington Special Driving Test for Approved Driving Instructors. This is a one-and-a-half hour driving test, over unfamiliar roads at the DSA driving examiner's training centre at Cardington in Bedfordshire. In 2001, when Alan took this test, the candidate was allowed a maximum of two minor faults, of which Alan only got one.

Alan has also driven commercially and has Public Service Vehicle (PSV) and Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) licences, and worked for a while as a coach driver, doing a number of trans-european tours.

In addition Alan was on the DSA Fleet Driver Trainer Register, for which he qualified in 2002. This is the highest DSA training qualification, and enables holders to train company car drivers in accordance with Health and Safety at Work legislation.

He is currently DSA Pass Plus registered, and is able to issue Pass Plus certificates upon completion of the 6 hour course.

Availability:
Alan is available for driving lessons from 10am to 7pm, Sunday to Friday. 10am to 4pm on Saturdays. Evening and weekend bookings are welcome. For precise availability please give us a call. We normally book lessons about one week in advance, but to ensure a specific time, or day, a couple of weeks is better.