Gillingham School finally folded and reversed their ridiculous ban on driving lessons. We forced the administration to stop blocking our path to independence and I appreciate everyone who refused to back down. Keep a close watch to ensure they actually follow through on this policy change.
October 10, 2017
Final supporters
Gillingham School (Dorset) has in recent times ceased to allow 6th former's to use free periods during their school timetable to be used to take driving lessons. The aim of this petition is to show that there is public opinion contrary to this decision made by the school and in so doing to put public pressure on the school to overturn this decision on the following grounds.
1) Driving lessons are educational - They are proven to develop many skills that are important for adult and working life such as patience, communication, decision making, dealing with pressure and an ability to multitask.
2) Driving Licenses are often required for jobs - Many jobs now list a driving licence as "essential" or "desirable" regardless of whether driving is actually an obvious requirement of the job. Having a driving licence greatly increases employabilty.
3) Road Safety - Without being able to take lessons during the working day young drivers will not experiencing many of the hardest and most dangerous driving conditions during their learning period which will increase the risk to themselves and others on the road.
4) Lower pass rates and increased costs to learn - Driving tests are carried out locally only during school hours and therefore not being able to take lessons during these times then they will not be used to the conditions that they will encounter on test and will consequently be more likely to fail thus increasing their cost of learning to drive.
5) Less time for pupils to do homework - Students are currently already required to sign up many of their free periods to study sessions. Not allowing them to take unassigned free periods for driving lessons does increase pressures on their time at home which may result in less attention given to homework and may actually hinder their academic achievements.
Ed Ralph (DVSA Approved Driving Instructor).
Updates
September 30, 2017
The Gillingham School administration cannot continue to ignore this growing wall of opposition. This momentum proves that students and parents are fed up with these nonsensical restrictions on our future.
Reached 100 supporters
September 30, 2017
34 Comments
My daughter was a pupil at Gillingham and was-at the time - allowed to use her free periods for driving lessons. She's now an independent young lady- driving herself wherever she wishes to go.
As a parent of a sixth former I do not believe that taking one or two free periods a week in order to learn to drive would be detrimental to their school education. Finding times available to learn becomes very difficult especiallly during the winter months.
I believe driving lessons are now a necessary part of the education process as many jobs require applicants to have a driving licence. This is particularly true in rural areas such as Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset. I believe driving lessons are a good use of free and occassional study time.
My 17 year old son would like to learn to drive, but the best instructors are all booked up out of school hours (and lessons then are often more expensive). Allowing driving lessons in free periods would spread the demand for lessons, making life easier for students and instructors and would let students use their time wisely.
As a parent of a 17 year old 6th former and also a driving instructor, I wholeheartedly agree with this petition as it helps to develop these young adults for the future.
Thank you for everyone's support in this. The school have changed now changed their policy to allow students to have educational driving lessons during the free periods in their school timetable. I am grateful to the school for their willingness to work with students and ADI's in this regard and am consequently now closing the petition.
I am an ADI and willl offer my full support in this matter.
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Gillingham School finally folded and reversed their ridiculous ban on driving lessons. We forced the administration to stop blocking our path to independence and I appreciate everyone who refused to back down. Keep a close watch to ensure they actually follow through on this policy change.
October 10, 2017
Final supporters
Gillingham School (Dorset) has in recent times ceased to allow 6th former's to use free periods during their school timetable to be used to take driving lessons. The aim of this petition is to show that there is public opinion contrary to this decision made by the school and in so doing to put public pressure on the school to overturn this decision on the following grounds.
1) Driving lessons are educational - They are proven to develop many skills that are important for adult and working life such as patience, communication, decision making, dealing with pressure and an ability to multitask.
2) Driving Licenses are often required for jobs - Many jobs now list a driving licence as "essential" or "desirable" regardless of whether driving is actually an obvious requirement of the job. Having a driving licence greatly increases employabilty.
3) Road Safety - Without being able to take lessons during the working day young drivers will not experiencing many of the hardest and most dangerous driving conditions during their learning period which will increase the risk to themselves and others on the road.
4) Lower pass rates and increased costs to learn - Driving tests are carried out locally only during school hours and therefore not being able to take lessons during these times then they will not be used to the conditions that they will encounter on test and will consequently be more likely to fail thus increasing their cost of learning to drive.
5) Less time for pupils to do homework - Students are currently already required to sign up many of their free periods to study sessions. Not allowing them to take unassigned free periods for driving lessons does increase pressures on their time at home which may result in less attention given to homework and may actually hinder their academic achievements.
Ed Ralph (DVSA Approved Driving Instructor).
Updates
September 30, 2017
The Gillingham School administration cannot continue to ignore this growing wall of opposition. This momentum proves that students and parents are fed up with these nonsensical restrictions on our future.
Reached 100 supporters
September 30, 2017
34 Comments
Most important life skill. Essential to let young people learn during daylight when roads are quiet and instructors avalable
My daughter was a pupil at Gillingham and was-at the time - allowed to use her free periods for driving lessons. She's now an independent young lady- driving herself wherever she wishes to go.
As a parent of a sixth former I do not believe that taking one or two free periods a week in order to learn to drive would be detrimental to their school education. Finding times available to learn becomes very difficult especiallly during the winter months.
I believe driving lessons are now a necessary part of the education process as many jobs require applicants to have a driving licence. This is particularly true in rural areas such as Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset. I believe driving lessons are a good use of free and occassional study time.
My 17 year old son would like to learn to drive, but the best instructors are all booked up out of school hours (and lessons then are often more expensive). Allowing driving lessons in free periods would spread the demand for lessons, making life easier for students and instructors and would let students use their time wisely.
As a parent of a 17 year old 6th former and also a driving instructor, I wholeheartedly agree with this petition as it helps to develop these young adults for the future.
Thank you for everyone's support in this. The school have changed now changed their policy to allow students to have educational driving lessons during the free periods in their school timetable. I am grateful to the school for their willingness to work with students and ADI's in this regard and am consequently now closing the petition.
I am an ADI and willl offer my full support in this matter.
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Most important life skill. Essential to let young people learn during daylight when roads are quiet and instructors avalable