Driving lessons tailored to you

Learn with confidence, positive energy, and clear guidance at Auto Academy. We provide calm, structured driving tuition designed entirely around your pace and learning goals.

Our core tuition programmes

Every pupil learns differently. We combine encouraging coaching with honest, constructive feedback to help you become a safe, self-assured driver on the road.

Beginner driving lessons

Build strong foundational skills from day one. Master vehicle controls, moving off, stopping, and basic junctions in a calm, stress-free setting.

Intermediate progression

Tackle complex roundabouts, busier traffic systems, and core manoeuvres while developing key hazard perception and independent decision-making skills.

Test preparation and mocks

Fine-tune every aspect of your driving with realistic mock tests and pinpoint feedback to ensure you head into practical test day fully prepared.

A supportive space behind the wheel

Learning to drive should be empowering, not intimidating. We focus on clear communication, positive reinforcement, and genuine enthusiasm to make every lesson engaging and productive.

Honest feedback that builds real skill

We believe in transparent, constructive debriefs at the end of each session. By identifying both your achievements and areas that require refinement, you always know exactly where you stand and what to focus on next. There is never any rush; we progress comfortably at a rhythm that suits your lifestyle and confidence levels.

Structured coaching for lifelong safety

Our syllabus does more than prepare you to pass a test; it shapes you into a mindful, resilient driver prepared for real-world road conditions. From adverse weather handling to defensive driving habits, we ensure you gain long-term capability behind the wheel.

Terms and conditions

Driving School Business Terms

Licence and Legal

  1. The student has a valid and clean provisional driving licence, full UK driving licence or valid international or European driving licence which must be presented to the driving instructor at the beginning of the first driving lesson.
  2. The student is medically fit to drive.
  3. The student complies with the eyesight regulation of reading a number plate from 20.5 meters. Where spectacles or contact lenses are required to do this then they will be worn for the duration of the driving lesson.
  4. The student will not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs when attending a driving lesson.
  5. The student is aware that they hold joint responsibility for their safety and well-being and the driving instructor cannot be held responsible for unreasonable actions made by the student.
  6. The student is aware that UK law requires that the DRIVER of the vehicle is responsible for any penalties that arise whilst they are driving a vehicle – regardless of whether they under instruction.
  7. Driving instructors will do everything possible to keep the student and public safe and to prevent the student from receiving any penalties however they cannot be held responsible for any action that the student takes that was not part of the instruction and that resulted in compromised safety or a penalty.

Driving Lesson and Course Bookings

  1. Penningtonadi reserves the right to request payment at the time of booking to firmly secure the appointment/s in the instructor’s diary.
  2. The 48-hour cancellation policy is in place regardless of whether the payment has been made prior to the lesson.  In such circumstances where payment has already been made and at least 48 hours’ notice has been given then the student may transfer the lesson fee to an alternative lesson appointment or request a refund.  Where payment has not been paid in advance then the student will be required to pay for the lesson before they may book their next lesson.  
  3. All driving lessons must be paid for. We do not offer credit, loans, payment plans or exchange of services or goods in exchange for driving lesson services.
  4. All block bookings, courses, driving lessons must be used within 4 months of the date of the purchase transaction.
  5. All reference to "Block Bookings", "Courses" and "Pre-Pay" all require payment up front. Payments may not be negotiated or paid in instalments.  A Course is defined as multiple lessons per week, with the minimum number of lessons being 6 hours.
  6. If a student wishes to cease lessons and has a remaining balance of Block Booking/Pre-paid lessons they are entitled to pause the course but must conclude the course within 3 months from the date of suspension. There will be no cash refunds. 
  7. A non-refundable deposit of £125 is payable to book a course, the balance must be paid no later than 7 days before the commencement of the course.  Late payment will result in cancellation of the course and loss of the £125 deposit.  Dates of courses may be amended without the loss of deposit providing that a minimum of 1 weeks’ notice was provided by the student/guardian.
  8. Course fees do not include the DVSA driving theory test fee or the DVSA practical driving test fee. Students are responsible for booking and paying for their own theory tests and Driving tests.
  9. Where a student is unwell or unfit to drive (with less than 48 hours’ notice, or after the commencement of a lesson) the driving instructor reserves the right to terminate the lesson. The full lesson fee is to be paid by the student in such circumstances.

Driving Lesson Etiquette

  1. The student will be ready for their driving lesson at the agreed time and location. Any changes to the location or time that result in loss of lesson time will not be reimbursed to the student. I, the instructor, will wait for the client for 10 minutes after the agreed lesson start time, after that, if the client does not present themselves, I will leave. The lesson will be charged in full. It is the responsibility of the client to make themselves present to the instructor.
  2. Any delays caused by the student will form part of the paid lesson appointment.
  3. The student will be suitably dressed for a driving lesson. 
  4. For the comfort of the driving instructor and other students who will be using the vehicle we request that all students demonstrate a good level of personal hygiene and come to lessons in clean clothes and with clean hands.
  5. Mobile phones must be silenced and placed out of sight on driving lessons.
  6. Students are permitted to bring a drink with them on driving lessons.
  7. Toilet breaks are permitted, please let your driving instructor know if you require a comfort break. Time for comfort breaks form part of the paid lesson time.
  8. Smoking is not permitted on driving lessons unless it forms part of a comfort break. Hands must be washed afterwards.
  9. When agreed with their driving instructor the student may bring someone with them to accompany them on a driving lesson. Please contact your instructor prior to the lesson to make such arrangements.
  10. Intimidation, threats of violence, rude gestures and foul language to other road users and to the driving instructor will not be tolerated. The driving lesson will be terminated and the full fee payable in such circumstances.
  11. Sexual contact, flirtation, explicit conversations and innuendo is not appropriate on driving lessons. The driving lesson will be terminated and the full fee payable in such circumstances.

Driving Tests

  1. Driving Test.

    Penningtonadi will only present candidates for a driving test if have demonstrated the skills set required by the DVSA and are therefore deemed to be safe in accordance with the driving instructor’s professional opinion.
    Where candidates book driving tests without liaising with their driving instructor and without prior consent from the instructor, Penningtonadi will not be held accountable for any inconveniences or losses, financial or otherwise, that are incurred by the candidate.
    Penningtonadi have the right to refuse to take a candidate for driving test at short notice, and at personal loss to the candidate in circumstances where the candidate is not able to safely sit the driving test, irrespective of the circumstances or reason.
    Penningtonadi will endeavour to give reasonable notice to candidates who are showing signs of not being ready for their driving test. 
    The driver of the tuition vehicle (the candidate) takes full responsibility for their own safety and that of their driving examiner and all other road users throughout the driving test.  Instructors are not accountable for the students’ actions on driving tests or any damages to the instructor's vehicle.
    The student is responsible for any injury, damages or financial losses that arise from their actions when driving their instructor's vehicle on a driving test.  These costs may include damaged tyres’, insurance excess.  These events are rare due to instructor's ensuring that students are safe before taking their test.

    Cancellation Policy

    A driving lesson booking by telephone, text, email, social media or in person all constitute an agreement that the student is requesting the time and expertise of the driving Instructor for that period. By booking a driving lesson the student/parent/guardian agrees to the driving lesson fee and agrees to give a minimum of 48 hours (from the commencement time of the lesson) to change or cancel the driving lesson.  Where less than 48 hours’ notice is given the driving school reserve the right to charge for the driving lesson.
    Where less than 48 hours’ notice is given to change or cancel a driving lesson the driving instructor will endeavour to substitute the lesson appointment with an alternative student – and where this is successful then the driving instructor may waiver the lesson fee.
    Please give your driving instructor as much notice as possible so that you can maximise the chance of the appointment being substituted and you not being charged
    In circumstances of a “No Show” (where the student fails to show up for their lesson) the full lesson fee is applicable and must be paid the same day.
    If the driving lesson commences late or finishes early, at the request of the student, the full lesson fee applies.
    Where the driving instructor cancels or terminates the lesson early due to the student not adhering to the Driving Lesson Etiquette the full lesson fee is payable.
    The cancellation policy applies to all types of cancellations; there are no exceptions.