Teenagers learn to drive at Nailsea School with new course

Star Wars actor David Prowse has helped to officially launch a new driving qualification at Nailsea School this week.

The Darth Vader actor and former bodybuilder – who was also the face of the Green Cross Code Man in the 1970s – was in town to launch the UK's first BTEC qualification in Driving and Driver Education at the comprehensive school.

The new course has been developed by Driving Force Training Ltd, a local driver training company, in association with the school.

Statistics show that being involved in a car crash is the number one cause of death among young people and the school hopes the course will make a difference by raising awareness and giving students the skills to be safe as a driver or as a passenger in a car.

Fifth and sixth form students at Nailsea School are being offered the chance of completing the BTEC course, which includes 30 hours of practical learning in a car leading to the DSA Driving Theory Test.

Ian Littlefield, training director for Driving Force Training Ltd, has written the course with fellow director Mike Williams and Nailsea School's assistant head of sixth form, Phil Duncan.

Their aim was to address the flaws in the current system of learning to drive as well as examining the pupil's fundamental beliefs about driving, their awareness of their own and their vehicle's limitations and their awareness of the inherent dangers in the driving task.

Driving Force Training Ltd managing director Mr Williams said: "Statistics show that a great number of car crashes involving young people occur when a group are in a car together.

"In fact, the risk of a crash for 17-20 year olds increases by 45 per cent with every passenger on board, and shockingly the leading cause of death among teenage girls in the UK is as passengers in cars driven by teenage boys.

"Some young drivers acquire a driver's licence after as few as 20 hours of driving tuition which then allows them to drive independently on motorways, major A roads, and in busy city centre areas where their performance may or may not have been assessed during their driving test or even more worryingly, covered by their instructor."

Mr Prowse, aged 76, said it was vital young people were properly educated to drive.

He said: "It's a wonderful campaign because it starts with young adults at school and they can learn all the whys and wherefores of driving before actually taking a test or getting on the road."

Headteacher David New said: "This is a curriculum based driving course and nationally accredited qualification for post 16 students.  

"This course provides  young people  with a valuable insight into the Highway Code, safe driving skills and the realities of drink- driving and speed awareness.

"The BTEC course covers everything from the physical control of the vehicle, through our interactions with other road users and the reasons why we make journeys and use cars, to our fundamental beliefs about driving.  

"Carefully designed to fit around the students' other studies, the course  allows Nailsea School students to participate in an even wider subject portfolio whist acquiring a valuable life skill.  It is a fully inclusive course for students, and has been designed with the help of one of our Banstead instructors so it can be offered to students with disabilities.

"The new BTEC includes 30 hours of practical in-car training in a structured environment, supervised by highly qualified, Fleet registered instructors, who will guide them through the process of learning all the basic skills they need for life on today's roads.   

"Students will experience driving with their friends,  who will critically evaluate both their own and their peer's performance.  

"Through the use of 'drink driving goggles', students will also be given the opportunity to experience the debilitating effects of drink-driving and driving under the influence of drugs.   "Students will also undertake police Field Impairment Tests (FIT). The course will also provide a hard-hitting look at the consequences of driving at excessive speed.

"Nailsea School passionately believe that by offering this unique opportunity we will be making a major contribution towards a safer environment."

•  Nailsea School which has technology and media arts college status opened in 1959 at a grammar school with 90 pupils. In became a comprehensive school in 1966 catering for pupils aged from 11 to 18 years. And in September 2010 HRH the Duke of Gloucester officially opened the new £32 million new building on the same campus. The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project was funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and included a state-of-the-art all weather pitch with floodlighting. Currently the school has 1,216 pupils and some of the top exam results in the county.