Alpha Driving School

30/06/2024

If Georgia lose tonight ! Will they be taking the midnight train ? It’s on my mind, just asking for a friend 😳⚽️

19/05/2022

Please note I now have two slots available for driving lessons Tuesdays 4pm till 6pm and Thursdays 1.30pm till 3.30pm both two sessions in the Burton area.

10/12/2020

Well done Louis on passing your test all the best for the future. 🚗👍

23/09/2020

Latest from the DVSA

An update on DVSA services
Government has announced additional restrictions across Great Britain to help limit the spread of coronavirus.

You can read the respective government’s guidance on the restrictions that are being put in place in England, Scotland and Wales.

DVSA services
Currently the new restrictions do on not affect our driver and rider theory and practical test services in England and Wales. This means we can continue to provide these services as normal.

We will keep the situation under review and let you know if anything changes.

Our priority is to keep staff and customers safe and we will continue to follow the Government’s health guidance for driver and rider practical and theory tests to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Tests in Scotland
The Scottish First Minister has advised against car-sharing with people outside your own household.

Whilst there is a clear expectation that this advice does not apply to car practical driving tests and lessons, we have sought clarification from Transport Scotland and will update you as soon as possible.

Detailed guidance from representative organisations
Representative organisations have published detailed guidance about working safely during coronavirus.

You should check the detailed guidance for the type of training you provide:

car driving instructors- from the National Associations Strategic Partnership (NASP)
motorcycle trainers- from MCIA Ride and the Driving Instructors Association
vocational trainers (PDF, 165KB)- from the National Vocational Driving Instructors Register
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15/09/2020

Latest from the DVSA

Driving test booking service: update
The driving test booking service reopened to the general public at 8am today (Monday 14 September) for new bookings in England, Scotland and Wales.

More than 155,000 driving tests have been booked so far today. There are currently low numbers of people in the queue.

The service will close at 11:30pm today, and will reopen at 8am tomorrow (Tuesday 15 September).

A random place in the queue
If you or your pupils try to access the service after 11:30pm today you will be given a random place in the queue at 8am tomorrow, along with any other learners who log on.

Find out more about the driving test book service.

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09/09/2020

Latest from the DVSA

Inviting candidates to choose a new test date
Before the driving test booking service reopened for the general public, we emailed candidates with a test on hold to give them priority to book a new test date.

Some of these candidates have still not chosen a new test date. We’ll be emailing them again from tomorrow (Thursday 10 September 2020) to remind them they need to do this.

This is the last time we will be able to give your pupils with a test on hold priority to choose a new test date.

Choosing a new date
The email will include a link to the online booking system to choose a new test date. Only candidates who already have a test on hold will be able to use this.

Your pupils will need to choose a new test date before 11.30pm on Sunday 13 September 2020 to have priority over the general public.

We will be reopening the booking service for new tests at 8am on Monday 14 September 2020.

If your pupil had a test booked before the pandemic but does not receive an invitation to choose a new appointment, they can do this at https://www.gov.uk/change-driving-test.

All available test slots will be shown on the online service. Your pupils should not contact our customer service centre as they will not be able to book any alternative test slots.

Making sure your pupils are ready
It's important that you speak to your pupils before they rebook their tests to make sure:

they are ready to take their test
you are available to take them
As examiners will only be at test centres when they have a test booked, we have increased the minimum notice period for booking a test from 60 minutes to 10 hours.

Wearing a face covering
All candidates must wear a face covering when taking their driving test, unless they have a good reason not to. This includes if:

they have a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability that means they cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering
putting on, wearing or removing a face covering would cause them severe distress
When they arrange their test, they’ll need to say if there’s a good reason they cannot wear a face covering. The email will tell them how to do this.

What your pupils can expect when taking their test
We've published guidance on GOV.UK about what your pupils can expect on the day of their test.

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Use this Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) service to change your driving test if you cannot go to your test, or change which test centre you take your test at.

06/09/2020

Latest information from the DVSA

Reopening the driving test booking service
We are reopening the driving test booking service on Monday 7 September at 8am.

Driving Tests will be available to book in England, Scotland and Wales but will be limited, with tests available to book for the next 6 weeks.

Due to limited availability, unfortunately not everyone who wants one will be able to book a test on Monday.

This is until the next set of tests are released on 14 September, when we are extending the period in which tests can be booked to 18 weeks ahead. This will allow us to add over 375,000 new and rescheduled tests to be booked for dates between 14 September and 21 January 2021.

As well as increasing available tests to 18 weeks ahead we are moving from 5 to 6 car tests a day.

Driving examiners are now familiar with using PPE such as face coverings and gloves and the using the latest guidance for carrying out tests. This means there is more capacity to safely increase the test programmes from 5 to 6 a day.

Changes to the booking service
As a result of high demand, we will continue to use the queuing system we introduced last week, to ensure the stability of the system. So, when you or a pupil logs in, you will not have access to the system straight away.

You will be held in a queue and given a queue number. We will regularly update gov.uk and our social media with information on driving test availability.

It is possible that you will be held in the queue for some time; please do not try to access the system using multiple devices as this increases the overall queue.

We will continue to update gov.uk and our social media channels to let everyone know when all tests sell out.

All the available appointments are shown on the online service. The DVSA customer service centre does not have access to any other appointments, so please do not call or email them.

There is not a ‘waiting list’ or ‘cancellation list’ for driving tests. You can only book the appointments you can see online.

Making sure your pupils are prepared
Fewer than 50% pass the test and there could be long waiting times for a re-test – so you or your pupils should only book when they are confident they can pass.

It is vital that your pupils are test ready if they want to book now, as tests could be at short notice.

We encourage you and your pupils to make sure they have spent time practising on a variety of roads and in different driving conditions before booking a test.

Test slot availability
If your pupil can’t book a test at their local centre, other nearby centres may be available. Your pupil should be properly prepared and able to take a test at any driving test centre.

After 7 September, new test slots will be made available on Monday 14 September and every Monday after that. You and your pupils will need to check again when we add new tests if you cannot find one immediately.

Scotland
Driving lessons in Scotland resumed on 24 August and driving tests will resume on 14 September.

Tests slots for candidates in Scotland will be available to book from Monday 7 September for tests from 14 September. Candidates who had their test suspended due to COVID-19 have been invited to choose a new date for their test before the general public in Scotland. Test slots will be limited, with tests available to book 6 weeks ahead only until 14 September when we extend the period in which tests can be booked to 18 weeks ahead.

Customer service centre
Our customer service centre is still receiving an extremely high number of calls and emails. We're sorry for the delays in getting through.

You will not be able to book or secure an earlier date for your driving test if you call us.

Please help by only calling if absolutely necessary; new slots and cancellations are only available online.

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GOV.UK - The place to find government services and information - Simpler, clearer, faster

04/09/2020

DVSA increasing the number of tests.

Increasing the number of car driving tests
The suspension of testing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to exceptionally high demand for driving tests.

Test availability
The measures we put in place to protect our customers and staff from COVID-19 have limited the number of available tests.

This includes reducing our booking window to 6 weeks and driving examiners carrying out 5 tests a day instead of the usual 7.

To increase the number of tests, we have announced that from Monday 14 September, we will extend the period in which tests are available to book from 6 weeks to 18 weeks ahead.

This will add up to 375,000 test appointments between 14 September 2020 and 21 January 2021.

Moving to 6 tests a day
As well as increasing available tests to 18 weeks ahead we plan to move from 5 to 6 car tests a day.

Driving examiners are now familiar with using PPE such as face coverings and gloves and using the latest guidance for carrying out tests. This means there is more capacity to safely increase the test programmes to 5 to 6 tests per a day.

This will increase the number of tests you and your pupils can book by more than 7,000 extra tests every week.

Test start times
It’s important you do not arrive for your driving test more than 5 minutes before your appointment time.

The increased number of daily tests in addition to the vital COVID-19 safety checks put in place to protect you and your pupils, means there is a small risk some tests could overrun.

This might affect the start time of the next test. If this is the case, please be patient until the examiner is available and ensure the vehicle is well ventilated in readiness for the test to start.

Please take this into account when planning your diary.

We will continue to end tests early when a learner commits a serious or dangerous fault, which means they have failed. So not all tests will run to the full time.

This means that any disruption to test times is likely to be minimal, and test centre managers will be on hand to help customers where needed.

High demand
Driving tests will continue to be in high demand as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown and the suspension of testing, so you and your pupils will need to be patient.

We will be releasing more tests every week for you and your pupils to book.

It is vital that your pupils are test-ready when booking their tests, as tests could be at short notice.

On average fewer than 50% of learners pass their driving test and there could be long waiting times for a retest – your pupils should book only when they are confident they can pass.

More information
Check GOV.UK for the latest about:

theory tests
driving tests
instructor guidance
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31/08/2020

Latest updyfrom the DVSA

We are reopening the driving test booking service on Tuesday 1 September at 8am.

Reopening the driving test booking service
We are reopening the driving test booking service on Tuesday 1 September at 8am.

Driving Tests will be available to book in England and Wales but will be limited, with tests available to book for the next 6 weeks. This is until the next set of tests are released on 7 September, so a rolling 6 week period is available.

Tests slots for candidates in Scotland will not be available to book until Monday 7 September for tests from 14 September. This is the date from which the Scottish Government has confirmed driving tests can restart.

Due to limited availability, unfortunately not everyone who wants one will be able to book a test on Tuesday. We’re working hard to add more tests to the system for people to book. From 14 September we are extending the period in which tests can be booked to 18 weeks ahead. This will allow us to add over 375,000 more tests to be booked for dates between 14 September and the end of January 2021. Then almost everyone should be able to book a test.

Changes to the booking service
As a result of high demand we will continue to use the queuing system we introduced last week, to ensure the stability of the system. So when you or a pupil logs in, you will not have access to the system straight away.

You will be held in a queue and given a queue number. We will regularly update gov.uk and our social media with information on driving test availability.

It is possible that you will be held in the queue for some time; please do not try to access the system using multiple devices as this increases the overall queue.

We will update gov.uk and our social media channels to let everyone know when all tests sell out.

All the available appointments are shown on the online service. The DVSA customer service centre does not have access to any other appointments, so please do not call or email them.

There is not a ‘waiting list’ or ‘cancellation list’ for driving tests. You can only book the appointments you can see online.

Making sure your pupils are prepared
Fewer than 50% pass the test and there could be long waiting times for a re-test – so you or your pupils should only book when they are confident they can pass.

It is vital that your pupils are test ready if they want to book now, as tests could be at short notice.

We encourage you and your pupils to make sure they have spent time practising on a variety of roads and in different driving conditions before booking a test.

Test slot availability
If your pupil can’t book a test at their local centre, other nearby centres may be available. Your pupil should be properly prepared and able to take a test at any driving test centre.

After 1 September, new test slots will be made available on Monday 7 September and every Monday after that. You and your pupils will need to check again when we add new tests if you cannot find one immediately.

Scotland
Test centres in Scotland remain closed, except for motorcycle tests as a result of Scottish Government rules. Driving lessons in Scotland resumed on 24 August and driving tests will resume on 14 September.

Tests slots for candidates in Scotland will be available to book from Monday 7 September for tests from 14 September. Candidates who had their test suspended due to COVID-19 will be invited to choose a new date for their test before the general public in Scotland can book a test. Test slots will be limited, with tests available to book 6 weeks ahead only.

Customer service centre
Our customer service centre is still receiving an extremely high number of calls and emails. We're sorry for the delays in getting through.

You will not be able to book or secure an earlier date for your driving test if you call us.

Please help by only calling if absolutely necessary; new slots and cancellations are only available online.

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GOV.UK - The place to find government services and information - Simpler, clearer, faster

28/08/2020

Latest DVSA update

Driving test booking service update
We told you on Wednesday 26 August that the online driving test booking service was closed and would reopen as soon as possible.

The service will stay closed while we invite candidates who put their test on hold on Wednesday 26 August to book a new test.

We will be inviting these candidates to choose a new appointment by 11:30pm on Monday 31 August.

We will contact them again on Wednesday 2 September to let them know what will happen next if they have been unable to book a test by this time.

Short notice cancellations
We’ve previously told you that all tests can be cancelled at short notice if the candidate has COVID-19 symptoms.

Due to the long waiting times to access our online system or contact centre, we have temporarily removed the three-day notice period for cancellations.

Where candidates fail to attend for test we will automatically refund the fee.

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22/08/2020

Latest DVSA update

Driving test website closed for maintenance after 7 million applications in 12 hours

The site experienced "unprecedented demand" after it reopened following several months' closure during the coronavirus lockdown.

21/08/2020

Latest update from the DVSA

Update on the reopening of the driving test booking service
Yesterday (20 August 2020) we let you know we would be opening the driving test booking service and online business service (OBS) so that everyone in England and Wales could book a driving test.

Following unprecedented demand on the booking system, we're aware that some users have not been able to book at test and received error messages.

We are working to fix this problem as soon as possible and we apologise for any inconvenience and disappointment to those who have been unable to book so far.

Test slot availability
We have limited numbers of tests available today but more will be released on Monday 24 August. Test slots will be released on rolling 6 week basis.

If you or your pupils cannot book a test at their preferred test centre, please check other nearby alternative test centres for availability.

Please avoid calling the contact centre as they are extremely busy. All driving tests will be made available online as soon as possible.

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