Helen

Helen is the driving instructor and founder of Surrey Downs Driving Academy, with over 20 years of experience. She keeps things calm and relaxed, and her lessons are patient and personal so you can build real confidence and become a safe driver at your own pace. Helen concentrates on proper time behind the wheel, so you learn by doing instead of sitting still talking about theory. She usually teaches in two-hour lessons, has a prepaid 10-hour block option, and uses the Total Drive app to sort lessons, payments and track your progress. Her school is female-led and she is known for being very supportive with nervous learners and older drivers. She takes pupils through mock tests and local routes until they feel ready. Helen offers Pass Plus courses with a minimum of six hours, refresher lessons for those coming back to driving, and full test-day support. That includes use of her car, a pre-test warm-up lesson and a lift to the test centre. Lessons are in a manual car and Helen prefers bookings and enquiries by text. She teaches on weekdays and weekends within her published teaching hours.