Covering the whole of the Shepway area we provide tuition to people of all ages. Nervous and novice drivers are our speciality. A patient and well qualified instructor with 27 years experience of driver training.
The school car is changed every 3 years or earlier. Currently, the car is a Ford Focus TDCi Ghia which is 24 months old.

Sandgate driving school was formed in 1978 - the same year that Terry Hughes, a former professional disc jockey, qualified as a Department of Transport driving instructor. Terry trained with the former Thanet School of Motoring and after 3 years he started his own driving school known as West End School of Motoring. Sandgate Driving School was purchased in 1986.

All Approved Driving Instructors  are regularly tested and graded by the DSA. The highest grade is a grade 6. For the past 18 years Terry has been a grade 6 instructor and has never been lower than a grade 5.

In 1996 Terry attended South Kent College and Canterbury Christchurch College in 1997. He achieved a Certificate in Education (post compulsory education) which means he is a qualified classroom teacher for 16+. Included in that qualification are D32 and D33 which are formal and informal assessors qualifications.

In 2002 Terry passed an NVQ level 3 in driving instruction. He passed the Institute of Advanced Motorists test in 1990 and has held a ROSPA gold since 1999.

In the course of any one year Terry would expect 50% of his pupils to pass the driving test at the first attempt. Of the 50% remaining, 75% will pass at the second attempt and, BLESS THEM, there are some people who take a little longer to reach their target. However, no-one is unteachable, it is practice and patience that will eventually get the desired result.

From 1992 until January 2005 Terry was the chairman of the Association of South Eastern Driving Instructors. He is currently their Honorary President and still deals on a daily basis with the DSA, both locally, and in Nottingham, not to mention all the national bodies associated with the driving industry.

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