Got a feeling I know the instructor you are talking about , smallish bloke nearing the retirement age feel free to pm me ?
My diary of my c+e training is on a post search My quest for class 1 , sounds like we had the same bloke ,
The only thing I can suggest is dont let it get to you, I took all he was saying to heart and brooded so much on my failings which at the time was just not getting the reverse , everything else I as very comfortable with , but the guy I was training with had the opposite was ok at reversing but was getting a verbal bashing on his drives out on road and as the instructor bellowed at him you could see his confidence and ability go down hill ,
I did complain but heard nothing so suggest whether pass or fail you contact the head office and report your feelings if enough people are having the same problem then they must start to take note ,
I really hope you get your pass despite your trainer try and ignore the swearing and put downs , but if it dont go well I know a guy who taught me to reverse in under an hour or he was gonna eat his hat well he got to eat a biscuit instead Mr Smythe I still thank you for my class 1 driving career going backwards
good luck for the test
Jenn x
Got a feeling I know the instructor you are talking about , smallish bloke nearing the retirement age feel free to pm me ?
My diary of my c+e training is on a post search My quest for class 1 , sounds like we had the same bloke ,
Jenn x
Hi there Jennie,
He’s in his late 50s/early 60s, so definitely nearing retirement, wiry but not short. I had one-to-one lessons (can’t deal with another student or an 8-hour lesson).
He’s in his late 50s/early 60s, so definitely nearing retirement, wiry but not short. I had one-to-one lessons (can’t deal with another student or an 8-hour lesson).
Matt
Sounds like the same bloke , theres a guy called Bill sometimes at Slough ex army Scottish , have a quiet word with him , hes a decent guy and may be able to advise you ,
how did you get on today was it test day today ?
jx
Jennie:
Sounds like the same bloke , theres a guy called Bill sometimes at Slough ex army Scottish , have a quiet word with him , hes a decent guy and may be able to advise you ,
how did you get on today was it test day today ?
jx
I’m waiting for him at Guildford now. He said to be here at 12:30 for a test at 1:30pm, it’s gone 1pm and he’s still not here.
I had my cat C with them at Slough, I think I know who you mean too as they really put me on edge as well, not a position I really wanted to be in given it was training for a retest that afternoon. I only had them for that as my instructor for my main bit of training was sound.
They usually park up on the road just leading up into the test centre if that helps, there’s also a small cafe just next to the entrance gate of the test centre, might be sitting in there? HTH
Jennie:
Sounds like the same bloke , theres a guy called Bill sometimes at Slough ex army Scottish , have a quiet word with him , hes a decent guy and may be able to advise you ,
how did you get on today was it test day today ?
jx
I’m waiting for him at Guildford now. He said to be here at 12:30 for a test at 1:30pm, it’s gone 1pm and he’s still not here.
That’s an appalling attitude for them to have. assuming you were to meet him early to get yourself settled into the vehicle and you’d have to be at the test station 10-15 mins before your test, it doesn’t give you long at all to prepare.
That should be grounds for a full refund if you fail this one.
Hi everyone and thanks for all your help and suggestions.
I failed on the reversing manoeuvre for lack of observation in the left mirror. (Didn’t continue with the test after being told that.) Almost didn’t go anyway – I hardly slept last night (or the night before).
m1cks:
That’s an appalling attitude for them to have. assuming you were to meet him early to get yourself settled into the vehicle and you’d have to be at the test station 10-15 mins before your test, it doesn’t give you long at all to prepare.
That should be grounds for a full refund if you fail this one.
It turned out he was stuck in traffic, as there was a big crash on the M25 this morning and the whole road was closed from Rickmansworth southwards (he was coming from St Albans). Still, I wouldn’t have wanted to spend another hour in a cab with him, but honestly why are their drivers spread so thinly that they have to come all that way?
Get on the phone to the head office. Request a full refund for today including test fees.
Did you get a reason why he was late picking you up?
Where do you live? It might be worth travelling a little bit to use another school
Edit: just seen his reason. We were typing at the same time
IndigoJo:
Hi everyone and thanks for all your help and suggestions.
I failed on the reversing manoeuvre for lack of observation in the left mirror. (Didn’t continue with the test after being told that.) Almost didn’t go anyway – I hardly slept last night (or the night before).
Matt
Pity you did go on t he road drive not just because you paid for it but it would have been good experience
Sorry about the result mate , defo get on the phone and see what can be done, sounds to me like you were not in the best place in your head for today I think he has affected your attitude I would suggest that when you get the refund you find another training center as you wont need much training before a retest , EP training in Surrey are a reputable place Sean is a mbr on here and also give Mr Smythe a call and have a chat he wont pressure you into anything but has great advise and he offers a free B&B with the course if you fancy his center , I passed with him and there is no problem with being in an unknown area as he takes you along all the test routes so your prepared
jx
Excellent point Rog. It would of been good to go to another trainer with your test sheet in hand. It would of been beneficial to them for deciding your course duration.
Jennie:
Sorry about the result mate , defo get on the phone and see what can be done, sounds to me like you were not in the best place in your head for today I think he has affected your attitude I would suggest that when you get the refund you find another training center as you wont need much training before a retest , EP training in Surrey are a reputable place Sean is a mbr on here and also give Mr Smythe a call and have a chat he wont pressure you into anything but has great advise and he offers a free B&B with the course if you fancy his center , I passed with him and there is no problem with being in an unknown area as he takes you along all the test routes so your prepared
jx
I sent a message to EP via their web form; they are pretty much just down the road from me. I also emailed Wallace (who I passed my class 2 with) although they keep suggesting I take my class 1 with the same guy (which I don’t want, as I was not comfortable with him either, although in retrospect he was nowhere near as dreadful as this guy). However, Wallace told me on the phone yesterday that they’ve just got a brand new fleet of automatics, which sounds quite attractive after using that crappy old Axor (same one you used).
I’ve got an interview for a class 2 job on the south coast on Monday, though, so it might not come to that.
elmet training:
Excellent point Rog. It would of been good to go to another trainer with your test sheet in hand. It would of been beneficial to them for deciding your course duration.
Paul
I see your reason for suggesting this , but in my case I did the same , there was no way I could have given a safe drive with the disappointment I was feeling my head would have been all over the place knowing I had failed , with the stress of waiting for the trainer to turn up and being late I think he made the right decision .
IndigoJo:
I sent a message to EP via their web form; they are pretty much just down the road from me. I also emailed Wallace (who I passed my class 2 with) although they keep suggesting I take my class 1 with the same guy (which I don’t want, as I was not comfortable with him either, although in retrospect he was nowhere near as dreadful as this guy). However, Wallace told me on the phone yesterday that they’ve just got a brand new fleet of automatics, which sounds quite attractive after using that crappy old Axor (same one you used).
I’ve got an interview for a class 2 job on the south coast on Monday, though, so it might not come to that.
I remember lol was always having problems with dashboard lights on training was lucky on test they behaved mind you only did reverse exercise in it same as you
elmet training:
Excellent point Rog. It would of been good to go to another trainer with your test sheet in hand. It would of been beneficial to them for deciding your course duration.
Paul
I fully agree with going for the drive anyway- you would then know what to expect next time( hopefully with a new trainer)
I would personally go to someone who judges your abilities for further training based on an assessment drive, may well be a different vehicle etc.
By coincidence I was doing my cat C test today at Guilford, and passed first time with 4 minor faults.
I was with another instructor from the same firm who knows his stuff and clearly did a good job getting me ready for the test, but his training style and my learning style were not a good mix. He struggled to get me ready in the time available, and I know I frustrated the hell out of the poor guy because I was asking questions when he was trying to focus on the foundations of driving skills. When I explained why I was doing what I was doing, I suspect he perceived this as arguing with him when I was merely letting him know why - I am not in a position to argue with someone who has all the experience and qualifications.
Different people learn in different ways, and if a particular instructor’s approach isn’t compatible with a trainee then I imagine it can be mighty frustrating for them as they struggle to get through to someone who, from their viewpoint, is not listening to what they are being taught.
Perhaps this is what happened here. Sooner or later the frustration will boil over and mortal men will crack eventually. Instructors are only human, after all.
I’m not defending this instructor’s actions, merely trying to have some empathy. We should not try and condemn him here when he is not around to answer his accusers.
In my situation I have been recommended the very same man as an alternative option for my C+E training, as he is regarded as a good instructor…
feel free to pm me ?
Mr Smythe I still thank you for my class 1 driving career going backwards 
I would suggest that when you get the refund you find another training center as you wont need much training before a retest , EP training in Surrey are a reputable place Sean is a mbr on here and also give Mr Smythe a call and have a chat he wont pressure you into anything but has great advise and he offers a free B&B with the course if you fancy his center , I passed with him and there is no problem with being in an unknown area as he takes you along all the test routes so your prepared 