Brian M Stratton ADI DVSA ORDIT TRAINER
“…I really liked the way you coached me, tailoring the sessions to suit my personal strengths and weaknesses… I appreciate the fact that you always provided a ‘listening ear’ and heard my concerns and worries… always coming up with constructive and practical solutions… your reassuring and professional style of coaching has provided the blueprint for how I coach my own pupils and it works so well… thank you for believing in me and supporting me all the way to qualification and beyond… “
Andy, ADI
ANNUAL REVIEW 2025
SO who were the top performers in 2025? Vivian got the year off to a flying start with a ZFT [Zero Fault Test] pass on her Part 2 Test. This is an extremely rare occurrence on a Part 2 test, so very well done to Vivian!
Lewis is flying high with an unbroken run of 21 L test passes on the bounce, five ZFTs and a 78% pass rate. Chris had four ZFTs and a 68% pass rate and a very creditable average of 2 DFs per test. The National Average is 7, so he’s obviously three times better than average!
Helen had an 85% pass rate and two ZFTs, and an outstanding average of 20 hours’ tuition to test standard.
On the Part 2 Test, Jaz, Vivian, Neural, Paresh, Maryam, Sue and Trevor were all successful.
Those achieving Part 3 success were: Jaz – first time, no trainee licence – Antonia, Rana, Gary, Faisal, Muhammed, David, Peter, William, Donna, Natasha and Matt. Jaz said this about the training: “The training moved at a good pace and your way of teaching really sat well with me… Any questions I had were always answered and I truly feel like I learnt from the best! I’m not just saying that either 😊! The books have all been an amazing help! It’s great to refresh and refer back to them when needed…”
Rana was very determined to pass, especially after a car breakdown on the way to his final training session. Overcoming such adversity just made him all the more determined to succeed, and he did. It was his second time ‘going round’ the system and he’d failed his three previous Part 3 tests with a 29 on each test, which he found very frustrating!
He said this about the training: “Regardless of the travel and obstacles that I faced, every part of training was worth it! Every part of training was invaluable because we did the training on a one-to-one basis… all of the advice was eye-opening to me, which helped me pass my part 3 test… core competencies were explained in detail… you are my role model and I will always continue to develop my career as an ADI, hoping to be like you one day… Big thank you 🙏🏼 I really appreciate all of your help…”
Passing their Standards Checks were: Anita, Callum, Derek, Janice, Steve, Mohammed, Kumar, Barry, Josh and Kul, who said:
“My learning experience with Brian opened my eyes to how I should be teaching my pupils. The training Brian gave me was outstanding, very helpful and patient. Until I understood the way I should be teaching, I’d previously failed my Standards Check with 26, but then after training, I passed at the 2nd attempt with 35, a 40% improvement.… The confidence I was given was amazing. I really do recommend you have at least a couple of sessions with Brian… this will help to develop yourself to be an even better instructor…”
Anita said: “I am very grateful for your help and have certainly changed my approach to some lesson plans going forward… I’m delighted I passed..“
And escalating her Standards Check grading from a B to a Grade A with a score of 44 was Janice, who said: “Thank you for absolutely everything once again… the big difference this time was that I had a structure, and it was clear that I had a structure… I’m on cloud 9!”
Linda attended training for a Standards Check ‘MOT’, as routine SCs aren’t being carried out at the moment. She said: “It’s been a few years since my last SC so I thought it would be a good idea to get checked to make sure I’m still coaching along the right lines! It’s good to get confirmation and reassurance.” She added: “You listened to my concerns, anxieties and worries and offered practical and useful advice… you also listened to my aspirations and goals [sorry for rambling!] and invited me to go for it! Everything from our initial chat to the welcome card and pack was ultra-professional training, both enjoyable and informative… I’d been recommended to you as the best trainer in the UK and I can see why!!”
The Q&A book has been the most popular book this year, with the Core Comps and Coaching: Essential Information books equally in demand. View the current ITP range at www.instructor-training.co.uk
So who travelled the furthest for training this year? Janice from the Outer Hebrides is the front runner with a 1318 mile round trip, with Emily from Paignton at 648, Kul from Leeds at 436, Mike from south Wales at 257 and Cal from the Midlands at 191.
Thank you all for making the journey for training, it’s very much appreciated.
Look forward to seeing you next year.
Best wishes and every success for 2026!
Brian
PS If you haven’t had a Standards Check for a while, or haven’t had one at all since passing your Part 3, consider a Standards Check ‘MOT’ to make sure your coaching is up to date! Just text ‘SC MOT’ to me on 07725 121 121 and we’ll arrange a day!
ALL training is carried out by Brian M Stratton ADI DVSA ORDIT TRAINER on a one-to-one basis. He is one of the the UK’s highest qualified and most widely experienced trainers .
He has been driving since 1973, teaching since 1986 and began training instructors from 1988 onwards.
With a vast amount of driving experience, clocking up almost 4 million miles so far, he has also broadened his experience by taking courses in saloon-car track driving, rally driving, four-wheel driving and tracked vehicles including a Chieftain tank. He has passed tests to drive lorries and buses and also holds a full motorbike licence.
He has driven extensively in the UK, Eire, The Channel Isles, The Isle-of-Man [on roads with no speed limits] and in mainland and offshore Europe: Germany [including unrestricted autobahns], Austria, Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal, The Azores, Madeira and Porto Santo.
Brian is one of very few trainers [approximately only 20 out of all 48,000 ADIs there were at that time] to have been trained by the DSA [as the DVSA were known at that time] at the Cardington Training Establishment under their External Trainer Development Scheme. This has given him a very clear understanding of what the Examiners are looking for when carrying out ADI Part 3, Standards Check Tests and ORDIT inspections.
This is what the DSA Development Manager said about Brian’s training: “Throughout the course I found your sustained interest and participation in the work most helpful, contributing in a very positive way… as on your previous visit, areas of the training techniques that when explored would reveal a weakness in the average trainer, showed, in your case, that you had already considered the problem and had devised an effective strategy for dealing with student weakness…”
Brian’s qualifications include:
- ADI Grade A [51/51] Previously Grade 6 six times
- Principal of ORDIT Training Establishment
- Cardington Special Driving Test Grade A manual & automatic [six times]
- DIAmond Advanced Instructor
- RoSPA Advanced Drivers’ Association Diploma Holder
- City & Guilds 730 FETC – First Part Completed
Full Licence Holder for the following Categories:
- LGV / PCV / Motorcycle
Brian works with instructors from all over the UK, from The Outer Hebrides to Cornwall, and many places in between, who travel to the Training Establishment to be coached. Following training, they then confidently take their tests in their home town, or nearest location.
Over the years he’s helped many thousands of instructors to quality, or stay qualified, and has sat in on numerous Part 3 tests.
Highlights of his career so far include:
…Passing my own Part 3, which I found very challenging, was such a life-changing moment.
…Training a client to achieve a grade 6/6 on his ADI Part 3…
…Coaching another client to a grade 6 on her very first Check Test…
…It was extremely gratifying working with a senior client aged 78-years-old, to achieve a satisfactory pass at his third and final Check Test thereby enabling him to remain on the Register and to carry on teaching…
…I’ve worked extremely hard to maintain a pass rate for the Part 3 of 80% plus, year in year out, as compared to the national average pass rate of around 30%…I feel this is due mainly to a policy of continual improvement by constantly assessing training methods, developing new techniques and also fine-tuning those that work, to make them work even better…
…Helping 317 clients [and counting] to achieve a Grade A on the new Standards Check… this includes six maximum scores of 51/51 and eight of 50/51… and a client who achieved a Grade A 45 on their third and final attempt after two previous failures of 26 and 28…
Other achievements include having his very first book ‘The Driving Test: Essential Information’ reviewed in The Sunday Times; awarded The Freedom of the City of London; invited to a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace and being presented to HM The Queen.
About His Driving:
On Brian’s latest RoSPA Advanced Driver’s Diploma re-test, the examiner commented in his report:
…This was a diploma re-test and there was high expectation… this drive did not disappoint…the commentary was above the required standard and was full of detailed information…this was one of the best drives of the year from a high quality driver with a veritable knowledge of Roadcraft and all things driving…
Result: Gold (Diploma re-test)
On Brian’s latest Cardington Special Driving Test, the assessor commented in his report:
…Brian drove to a very competent and professional standard throughout the drive… he showed good levels of planning, road positioning and smoothness… his driving was progressive when safe and showed restraint when appropriate…good car control and procedures were demonstrated to a consistent level…
Result: Grade A
About His Teaching:
On Brian’s latest Standards Check he was awarded a Grade A [51/51] and the examiner commented: “That was text book. An excellent session observed. Well done!”
About His Training:
On Brian’s latest ORDIT inspection he was successful with the highest grades being awarded in all categories.
In the last six inspections the DSA and DVSA inspectors have made the following comments about Brian’s work:
…Excellent… Precision Engineered Training…
…Very Well Structured… As Good as it Gets…
…Absolutely First Class…
…Brilliant…
…A Really Good Session… Very Professional…
…A Very Good Session… Very Well Done…
[Latest: 28 March 2018 – Inspector 1]
…It was an excellent training session which was tailored and centred around the client needs… and achieved the learning outcomes…
[Latest: 28 March 2018 – Inspector 2]
On this latest inspection there were two inspectors.
The DVSA recognises Brian as an exemplar ORDIT ADI.
This is what clients say about his training:
I really enjoyed my training – you were very patient and made everything so straightforward. Ray, ADI
Very professional – you always had answers and gave me a massive boost to my confidence. Louise, ADI
The best coaching I ever had.” Aston, ADI
I told you yesterday and I want to say it again – You are the best! Marcel, ADI
You always had the correct information and gave me clear and constructive advice. Sarah, ADI
I now know what client-centred training is and you demonstrate it very professionally. Andrew, ADI
You obviously take great pride in your work and that shows in the way you train. Salima, ADI
He uses the latest client-centred coaching techniques and is the author of many highly acclaimed books, DVDs and audio CDs on the subject of training and teaching – please see the Publications section for further details.
Latest book published 01.11.22 – Coaching: Essential Information – please see the shop section for further details.
Tel/Txt Brian M Stratton on 07725 – 121 121 for more information or to book training.
Q&A
Q&A WITH BRIAN M STRATTON |
What Prompted You to Become an Instructor?
I was an advanced driver – with the League of Safe Drivers – as RoSPA was known at that time, and I wanted to coach others so therefore I had to pass the ADI exam in order to do that professionally. Having qualified, I then taught learners for a while before progressing to training.
And Then to Go Into Training?
Because I found it challenging to qualify, and I knew others did as well, I decided that I would follow that course and move into helping people to qualify. It seemed a natural career progression and I liked the idea of helping instructors to achieve ADI status and then developing their careers further – Cardington, ORDIT and so on.
Best Career Moments So Far?
The stand-out achievements so far have been helping a client to pass the ADI Part 3 with a score of 6/6, a grading which hadn’t been achieved before or since. Another client was awarded a grade 6 on their very first Check Test, and most recently, seven clients consecutively achieved a Grade A score on the new Standards Check, with a total of thirteen in the first nine months – this figure now stands at 291 Grade As. All of my ORDIT clients have passed their initial inspection first time, including one with all 6s marked on the form – again, a feat not equalled before or since.
In terms of publications, I vividly remember the Sunday Times phoning me to ask if I’d mind if they reviewed my first book ‘The Driving Test: Essential Information’. Not a difficult decision, and one which took me all of half-a-second or so…
Who or What Has Influenced Your Training Style?
I developed a coaching style relatively early in my career having realised that working with clients and going with the grain, got far better results than imposing a rigid structure of rote teaching. Listening to what they wanted to do or achieve, and then giving them the ‘rules and tools ‘which they could constructively apply was, and still is, a key component of the way I deliver coaching. It’s proved consistently successful over many years in all disciplines: ADI training, Cardington Coaching, ORDIT training, IAM and RoSPA training and so on. I also study other arenas such as business or sport to see how training and coaching is delivered within those environments. Who is the best in their chosen field, and why are they the best – what do they do that others don’t? Examples include cycling and football. Within the cycling world the guru is Sir David Brailsford and his coaching concept is ‘the aggregation of marginal gains’, whereby every aspect of performance is forensically scrutinised and procedures put in place to deliver improvements. Although individually these are small increases, collectively they make a significant difference. In football, one of the coaches consistently achieving success is Jose Mourinho, formerly at Chelsea. His techniques are a fusion of skilled man-management and tactical nous which is based on in-depth studies of opponents, and deploying a team specifically selected for each match, and then micro-managing the team and tactics within the match itself. Although no longer with Chelsea he will [and is] surely succeed at whichever club he decides to join.
As to who has influenced me I would choose two Supervising Examiners from the DSA, as the DVSA were then called. The first is Derek McRae who was an ‘old school’ Supervising Examiner who put the fear of God into many ADIs and PDIs who were trying to qualify. Although he was based in Inverness, I worked with many PDIs who had come up against Derek and had been given short shrift, and very often a grade 2/2 on their Part 3, and then travelled to me to help them prepare for their next attempt. I realised that Derek was [sadly he is no longer with us] someone who sought a very high standard from all those he came into contact with, be it PDIs or ADIs. I met Derek when I went to Cardington to take the Special Car Test. He often worked there as an OSI [Occasional Staff Instructor] training other examiners to his very exacting standards. And of course, taking ADIs for the CST [Cardington Special Test]. When I realised he would be examining me my heart naturally sank and I knew my driving would be subjected to very close scrutiny. I must have caught him on a good day because he passed me and I was able to retain my Grade A. He did, though, mark me down for two driver faults – with which I good-naturedly disagreed. I reasoned that two driver faults with him would be akin to a zero with another examiner. What struck me about Derek was his extreme professionalism and during the drive we talked about the industry, its changes and its future and he was very passionate about ADIs attaining and maintaining a high standard of tuition.
Another ‘old school’ former Supervising Examiner who has helped me look at my teaching methods and identified areas in which I could develop my coaching is Dez Peace. Cut from the same cloth as Derek McRae, these are examiners the like of which we won’t see again. With an unrivalled knowledge of their subject they both had the knack [and Dez still does] of wearing that knowledge lightly, and making you feel as if you knew those things all along, they just pointed you in the right direction to discover it yourself. Dez was also highly demanding of PDIs who attended for Part 3 tests. He earned the nickname Desmond Tutu, owing to the fact that he seemed to award quite a few 2/2 grades. I recall one check test when Dez said he thought I’d worked very hard to develop my client’s driving. I replied: “Don’t all ADIs?” His response was that, unfortunately not. He would, of course, always find something that needed development, but you knew it was based on sound procedures and meant in good faith.
I also enjoyed the visits to Cardington for the External Trainer Development Scheme – a short-lived commercial project designed to bring trainers together with the DSA to ensure everyone was ‘on the same page’. Those training sessions were invaluable and gave insights into the DSA methods and mindset that then influenced and enhanced my training. However, it always felt like going into the lions’ den and you were always on your guard to a certain extent. I think there always has been that ‘them and us’ atmosphere, and us ADIs are usually slightly wary around ‘them’!
Various ADIs have also influenced my career, especially in the early years when I was just starting out: Bill, Derrick and Douglas to name a few who, as time-served instructors, were always happy to offer guidance and advice to us newbies and point out the error of our ways and how it should be done properly.
What Do You Think Are Going to Be The Key Changes to The Industry?
I think it’s already started to happen – the introduction of the Standards Check has seen a gradual change in the way ADIs teach, and has ushered in coaching as the default system of developing driving skills in both learners and full licence holders.
That’s in the short to medium term, and longer term I can see the raising of the standing of us ADIs – possibly something like an Institute of Chartered Instructors whereby instructors are viewed in a much more professional light.
Also, the promotion of those ADIs who are Grade A and making the public much more aware that not all ADIs are the same and that there is a difference between an A and a B, for example. ADIs can now book their own Standards Check online, selecting the day, time and test centre of their choice. This will enable ADIs to ‘own’ this aspect of their careers and take full responsibility for it.
The introduction of the ‘new’ driving test on Monday 04 December 2017 was also a significant step forward in driver education. As was the alignment of the ADI Part 3 with the Standards Check on 27 December 2017, and the ADI Part 2 on the same date.
The most recent industry change has been to the ORDIT register, and all trainers must now be a Grade A to go on the Register initially, and then retain that Grade at each subsequent Inspection. This, of course, could be the forerunner to making ORDIT mandatory for all those wanting to become ADIs.
All training courses have been adapted to reflect the above changes.
And Finally, What Advice Would You Give to New Instructors and Drivers?
Take nothing for granted. You’re only as good as the last time you taught or drove. It’s like an MOT – it’s only good on the day. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been driving or teaching, or what qualifications you have, it’s ensuring that you drive or teach consistently safely and use self-assessment to develop your skills further. See it as a journey rather than a destination – it’s a continuous process.
NEED TO KNOW:
Brian M Stratton is a very experienced coach who imparts information in a clear and easy to understand manner. All training, coaching and guidance is one-to-one and is very carefully tailored to suit your needs, requirements and abilities.