About us

This is the section generally missing or often very vague on most ADI trainer websites; the information about your potential trainers, their experience and credentials. Most organisations try very hard to hide their trainer’s identities. Excelsior has nothing to hide.

James Dawson formed the business after working for a national training company training that shall remain nameless. James soon realized how the industry worked, and the shoddy and often downright dishonest business practices used. A large percentage of our work is correcting other trainers mistakes, whether it be a part 3 rescue course or check test training for a newly qualified driving instructor who has perhaps failed a recent check test or has no idea on how they should prepare. Adam Cotton joined up with James at Excelsior after a similar experience in training to be a driving instructor.

This is the reason Excelsior Training was set up, to move in a different direction to the benefit of the trainees, not to the total benefit of the training companies, who generally work entirely as profit generating machines, they need huge profits to survive.

Excelsior Training are different, and have very different motivations.

Excelsior’s Training team
James Dawson Ba (Hons) DSA ADI
Adam Cotton DSA ADI

James was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire, and now lives in South Manchester he has two young sons, and his everyday interests include Manchester United Football Club and sports cars.
 
 
Adam is also married with two young sons and lives in Congleton, Cheshire. His interests include fishing and again cars. Adam runs a classic 1956 VW Beetle and a Georgia Blue Mark 6 VW Golf SE for the training.
 

 
Both the modern VW’s are used for the ADI training at parts 2 and 3. Of course if you wish you may use your own vehicle, particulary for the part 2 test of driving ability. You do not have to put up with sub standard trainers or sub standard cars.

Although based in the Midlands and Northwest, Excelsior cover nationwide and can offer training at any UK venue, and accompany you to test at any UK DSA test centre. 

The training cars

 

Do you really want to spend your training time in a Corsa or a Micra?

Adam is pictured next to his training car

 

James is pictured at Middlesex University’s graduation ceremony in July 2008

Incredibly many people part with large sums of money to trainers with little experience or qualifications, and a lack of motivation, without seeking personal recommendations from other trainees.
Most training companies and ADI’s websites will show a variety of tempting deals and incentives to train with them. Most are lacking in two areas:

The Trainers credentials and recommendations from previous clients
You will notice this website is different with nothing to hide. The two areas above are the most important when considering choosing who to spend you’re hard earned money with. See Testimonials for information on others who have trained with Excelsior. All these previous clients have agreed to be contacted, so please feel free to call them.

Many sites will list supposed credentials to train you. Beware as many are not related in any way to driver training. Many offer part 3 rescue courses and check test advice after only qualifying themselves a couple of years before! Some amazingly have never done a DSA check test, yet consider themselves
All the training is carried out by James and Adam personally

James Dawson
BA (Hons) Driver Education - Middlesex University
DSA ADI Grade 6 (Straight sixes)
DSA ORDIT 1 2 and 3 & Fleet Registered
DIAmond Advanced Instructor & Examiner
Cardington grade A & RoSPA Gold
Diploma in Driving Instruction
C&G 7302 Teaching Certificate
SAFED Trainer & Assessor

Adam Cotton
DSA ORDIT Grade 6. (Straight sixes)
Parts 1 2 and 3
DSA Fleet Registered
Cardington grade A & RoSPA Gold
C&G 7307 Teaching Certificate
SAFED registered Trainer

First of all the grade! There are many grade 6 instructors out there if you listen to gossip at test centres, ask to see evidence, in fact how many with all sixes on their check test sheet? If you are going to trust someone to train you to become an ADI or develop further as an ADI then shouldn’t they have proved their own ability! TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL POSSIBLE!

Ba (Hons) Driver Education Middlesex University
The accolades within the industry many aspire to gain and only a few have achieved. Minimum three year course involving many hours of study, determination and hard work. 
James is one of a handful of ADI’s within the industry with the coveted Degree in Driver Education, completed in 2007 with a 2:1 at Middlesex University.

Who better to train you than someone who has the most highly acclaimed qualification within the industry? James conducted a thorough study into the reasons for a poor general qualification rate for new driving instructors as part of his research for the degree, please do not worry about the poor qualification rates though, Excelsior’s rate is 100%! (Trainees who started and completed training with Excelsior)

Ordit (The Driving Standards Agency Official Register of Driving Instructor Trainers)

ORDIT was set up to ensure trainers were offering tuition of a suitable standard and to ensure those standards were maintained. Trainers who are not ORDIT registered either cannot reach the high standards set up by the DSA or even worse, they have been removed from the register.

Adam achieved straight grade 6’s on his latest ordit inspection in November 2008. This is the true measure of quality training and proves Excelsior’s techniques and procedures are at the cutting edge.

James and Adam are qualified for all three parts of the training process, Ordit 1, 2 and 3. They consistently provide quality theory tuition and practical driving tuition with teaching instruction. Only approx. 1% of ADIs hold this qualification. Excelsior are inspected every 2 years and maintain high standards of tuition. These inspections are carried out by a DSA supervising examiner and are strictly undertaken. Only ADIs who have proved on inspection that they have the necessary skills at all three stages can possess this qualification. Ordit registered organisations must offer training for all three parts. Always ask to see the badge or contact the ORDIT secretary to check.

Remember many organisations cheat. They employ trainee instructor trainees, and practice on you! Or worse still use some ORDIT registered trainers and some not.

Their regular training inspector is an Assistant Chief Driving Examiner, and is also the ACDE who wrote the ADI guidelines, these guidelines set out how part 3 tests and check tests are conducted. Advice comes straight from the top of the DSA.

You will be trained in accordance with the Ordit code of practice throughout.
Excelsior also hold a premises inspection certificate. This involves checking of safety procedures, suitable training vehicles and inspection of paperwork etc. (See ORDIT directory at DSA Website for more information.) But don’t worry, you will not be paying for us to run an expensive office! We don’t have an expensive office.

7303 Certificate in education

James also holds this adult teaching qualification. So he is fully qualified to offer classroom training for all parts of driving tuition.James undertakes theory training for the local council in ‘pass plus extra’ for example. Nigel also teaches theory on fleet training courses and ADI CPD sessions.

Dia/Aqa Diploma in Driving Instruction (Dip Di)

Only a very small percentage of ADIs hold his qualification. A very broad range of knowledge is required to pass these exams.

There are 5 separate modules needed to obtain this as follows:

• Management Practices and Procedures Crucial for the day-to-day running of a business, franchises, self-employment and accounts etc.
• Teaching Practices and Procedures
• Vehicle Maintenance and Mechanical Principles You increasingly need knowledge of the basic workings of a motor vehicle. You need to be able to explain in simple terms, the clutch, braking, steering, gears, safety and maintenance checks etc. This is both for your parts 2 and 3 and also for teaching your pupils.
• Legal Obligations and Regulations
  You need a thorough knowledge of driving licence regulations, legal obligations, road traffic law etc. SO when a learner asks you ‘ can I tow this trailer after I pass my test?’ You know the answer!
• Driving Theory Skills and Procedures
  You need to know how to deal with any situation that may arise both whilst driving and whilst giving tuition. You need to know the theory of driving back to front.
  

Cardington Test

This is the most difficult test in the country and is undertaken at the DSA training establishment at Cardington near Bedford, conducted by the harshest of DSA examiners! This test if way above the standard of the part 2 and other advanced driving tests. James and Adam are able to pass their knowledge of the very highest standards of driving (based on the DSA marking system) onto you. Only a tiny percentage of ADIs have the coveted grade ‘A’. This is what you should ultimately aim to achieve in your driving career. The test lasts for 1.5 hours over a demanding route and encompasses all of the maneuvers.

Rospa Gold

Similar to the test above but to a different driving style used by the emergency services.’ The system of car control’ using IPSGA as opposed to MSM. James and Adam have the coveted Gold award.

Diamond Advanced Instructor

To gain this qualification, candidates must pass the DIA diploma (All Modules), pass the Cardington or Diamond Special test and sign the DIA code of professional conduct. Excelsior also train candidates for both the Diamond Advanced and Diamond Special test; you will be trained to pass these tests before attempting part 2. This is why Excelsior’s part 2 pass rate is 100%; clients have already proved that they have the ability to pass part two before taking the test.

Diamond Advanced Examiner (The DIA’s highest qualification.)

Only approx 50 ADIs hold this qualification. The Diamond Advanced test is virtually identical to the part 2 test, so who better to know train you to the required standards. See DIA website for details of the above.)

DSA Fleet Register (Ref: 1253)

Once qualified as a DSA ADI, there are a vast range of services you can offer in the field of driver training. The fastest growing sector with by far the biggest shortage of suitable instructors is the Fleet Market. This is the training of qualified drivers to higher standards, for example - company car drivers. New health and safety legislation now requires that drivers who undertake driving as part of their work duties should undertake some form of training. Mindful of this, the DSA have set up the fleet register, which is similar to the ORDIT register. Trainers must undertake and pass a strict DSA 3 examination process, which covers the theory, driving and tuition of qualified company car drivers, including commentary driving. An ADI must qualify all over again. This is a higher qualification than the green badge and a small number of ADIs on the register are check tested with a qualified driver rather than a learner

DSA accredited Fleet Diploma course

In addition to training company drivers Excelsior also train the trainers to deliver Fleet training through his DSA course ‘The Excelsior Fleet Diploma’. Only someone with a thorough understanding of the procedures involved could successfully run this course.
Only trainers with a broad range of extra qualifications as above are able to train you in all the necessary areas, so that you can become a driving instructor and train beyond the skills of the Green Badge.
Ask your current trainer about their qualifications and ask for recommendations from previous trainees. All trainees attending this course after qualification as an ADI will be offered a substantial discount from normal course prices.