League tables for driving schools

NATIONAL LEAGUE tables detailing the best and worst driving instructors could soon be published by the Government, it was announced yesterday.

Instructors are about to be sent figures detailing pass rates over the last 12 months, which could be made public under plans being considered by the Driving Standards Agency.

"The possible publication of league tables for instructors is something we are looking at," a DSA spokeswoman said.

"We are writing to approved driving instructors over the next two months telling them how their pupils have fared.

"This kind of information is a management tool for the instructors and it would need freedom of information legislation changes to this information to be made public."

The DSA added that: "The type of candidate dealt with could affect the pass-rate figure, and that's something we would have to take into consideration if tables were published."

The pass rate for the practical driving test in 1997-98 was 46.73 per cent compared with 44.75 per cent in 1996-97. Theory test pass rates in 1997-98 were 65.23 per cent compared with 70.05 per cent in 1996-97.