Driving Instructors in Bradford, United Kingdom

School Staff Driving a School Minibus Driving Licence rules for driving a minibus changed on 1 January 1997, and unfortunately, the question of whether or not school staff need a specific entitlement (category D1) on their driving licence to be able to drive a school minibus has been unclear ever since. Before 1 January 1997 Drivers who obtained their full car driving licence before 1 January 1997 may drive a minibus in the UK, provided it is not being used for hire or reward, if they hold a valid full driving licence for private cars (category B) as their licence will automatically have included a D1 entitlement. However, when their licence expires at 70 years of age or they develop certain medical conditions, or they apply for a new licence (if they change address, for example) they will not automatically retain the D1 entitlement, but must apply to retain it and pass a medical test. After 1 January 1997 Drivers who obtained their full car driving licence on or after the 1 January 1997 are not licensed to drive a minibus because a D1 entitlement was not automatically included on their licence. Therefore, to drive a minibus, they need to gain category D1 entitlement by meeting higher medical standards and passing a separate driving test in a minibus. Volunteer Drivers However, ‘volunteer drivers' are exempt from the requirement to have a D1 entitlement on their driving licence and may drive a minibus operated for social purposes by a non-commercial body provided they meet certain conditions: · The driver must be aged 21 years or over · The driver must have held their category B driving licence for at least two years · The minibus must be being used by a non-commercial body for social purposes, but not for hire or reward · The driver must not be paid to drive the minibus, other than out-of-pocket expenses · The minibus must not exceed 3.5 tonnes (or 4.25 tonnes if specialised equipment for disabled passengers is included) gross vehicle weight · no trailer is towed This exemption was designed for charities, not for schools, and unfortunately, the term ‘volunteer driver' was not defined and as far as i am aware it has not been tested in law. Therefore, there has been conflicting advice for many years as to whether or not teachers driving a school minibus are ‘volunteer' drivers and so exempt from the need to have a D1 driving licence. In an attempt to clarify the situation, the (then) Department for Education and Skills published ‘Licensing for Incidental Drivers of the School Minibus' in April 2006, stating that teachers and other school staff are mostly exempt from needing a D1 driving licence because they are not being paid specifically to drive, i.e. driving is not mentioned in their contract of employment.

In my own experience, school minibuses are often driven by post 97 drivers, but there seems to be move towards these people getting D1 entitlement as they don't have it on their licence in any form. There is also the option for the school to have a Sec tion 19 or even Section 21 permit in place. As long as the bus does not exceed 3.5 t MAM or 4.25 t if adapted for disabled use they are OK. Be very careful though because a lot of minibuses over 12 seats are over 3.5 t MAM. No towing of trailers for the post 97 guys either and no driving abroad for any of them as a full D or D1 licence will be required. It's a complex issue but you can always contact the CTA (Community Transport Association) who run the MiDAS scheme and are very happy to dish out advice.

Some useful info here: https://www.gov.uk/.../applying-for-a-bus-or-lorry... http://www.direct.gov.uk/.../digitalasset/dg_4011275.pdf

Phil Clarkson from Baildon mate, he's spot on

Steve -Kool School - 07960660941 £20 a lesson plus what else can I say but he did get me and Dale Heaton passed!!

Benji Pickin mate

James McGrath is brilliant funny and professional. Passed my test first time.

Steve Griffiths in cottingley

Luke went with sue Martin from Eldwick she was fab & he passed first time But your friend Sarah is right Helen Collins, is fab she was Helen smith at school, but her pass rate looks fantastic xx