Petals

Just got back from my first night at college.
I am doing an introduction to teaching course called PTLLS, affectionatley known as "Petals".  It is the first in a line of professional qualification that enable you to become a fully qualified teacher in the 16+ market.know I do not need this for my job as yet but there is talk that it will soon be made compulsory for all Driving Instructors in the future so, not being one to drag my feet, I decided to gain the qualification voluntarily.  If I wait till I have to then there is a risk that all the courses will be full and if I do get a place I will be surrounded by know-it-all ADIs who will use it a platform to inform the rest of the community just how wonderful they are at their job.
Now, don't get me wrong, there are some great Instructors out there who have loads to offer and are friendly and supportive of their colleagues but as an estimate about fifty percent are pompous and full of themselves and will not miss the opportunity to tell you how wonderful they are, how they have 100 per cent pass rate (yeah right!!) and they are the best in the area.
There are over 52,000 qualified Driving Instructors inthe UK at the moment so it is easy to imagine the number of these insufferable individuals.  I have to endure them in Test Centres whilst my pupil is out on test, that is when the good ones aren't there, so why on earth would I want to put up with them on a course too?
So instead I am the only Instructor out of 14 on the course and have the privilege of learning from other potential or current trainers from all walks of life.  I am looking forward to the lesson taught by the restaurant chef, apparently we will be able to take it home and eat it.  Yummy!
I will keep you posted...