Learn to drive safely for life with Castle Driving School
Castle Driving School is a well-established driving school based in Colchester, Essex, with over 50 years of experience in teaching learners to drive safely for life. Our primary objective is to teach you to become a safe driver, not only to protect yourself, but also your passengers and other road users.
Our History
Castle Driving School was founded in 1966 by Colin Diaper, who was only 21 years old at the time. The school took its name from Colchester's rich history, and Colin's admiration for Barbara Castle, the transport minister at the time. Over the years, the school has remained a family-run business, with Colin's daughter Shirley taking over the reins after his passing in 2007. Today, Shirley, a high-grade A instructor, continues to run the business with the same passion and dedication as her father.
Our Services
At Castle Driving School, we offer a range of services to cater to different learning styles and needs. For those learning to drive, we provide driving lessons in both manual and automatic cars, with flexible tuition structures and times to suit your schedule. Our instructors are all fully qualified, DBS checked, and dedicated to providing you with the best learning experience possible.
In addition to our standard driving lessons, we also offer intensive driving courses, which have been highly successful in helping learners pass their driving test quickly and confidently. These courses are designed to be flexible and tailored to your learning style, with our experienced instructors guiding you every step of the way.
Why Choose Castle?
There are many reasons why people choose Castle Driving School, but the most common reasons are recommendation, our fully qualified instructors, flexible tuition structure, and the fact that we don't offer special introductory rates that can be misleading. We believe in providing value for money, and our instructors are dedicated to helping you become a better and safer driver.
Post-Test Training and Refresher Courses
At Castle Driving School, we believe that learning to drive is a lifelong process. Once you have passed your driving test, we offer post-test training and refresher courses designed to improve your driving skills further. These courses are perfect for experienced drivers who want to improve their confidence and overcome bad habits.
Advertising vs. Reality
The driving school advertised revision lessons on their website, but when a customer tried to book, they were told that the service was unavailable with no explanation or alternative offered. This led to a negative review and a warning to potential customers to avoid the school.
Excellent Instructors
Several reviewers praised their instructors, including Phil O'Keefe, Paul, Martin, Shirley, and Linda. These instructors were described as professional, patient, and calm, helping learners to build confidence and pass their tests. Some reviewers even mentioned specific strengths, such as Phil's ability to help anxious learners and Martin's challenge-based approach.
Positive Experiences
Most reviewers reported positive experiences with the driving school, mentioning that they felt comfortable and confident with their instructors. Many passed their tests on the first try, and some even achieved zero minors. The school's instructors were consistently described as friendly, polite, and professional.
Consistency Issues
However, a few reviewers experienced consistency issues with their lessons, including cancelled or delayed sessions and unresponsive instructors. This led to frustration and negative reviews.
Avoidance Warnings
Two reviewers strongly warned against using the driving school due to their terrible experiences. One reviewer mentioned a lack of consistent learning, unresponsive instructors, and excuses about car breakdowns, while another reviewer cited cancelled lessons, changed hours, and unreturned messages.
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