SDM were excellent in my experiences. With a background of car, HGV and emergency service training, you get the best parts of all these.
For example you can book a half day of driving and go out for a full day with one of the instructors (who are all ADIs as well as experienced emergency service instructors) along with a fellow student, which gives you a great insight into where you are and should be, as well as reassuring you that we all had to learn at some point rather than thinking you're the only learner around. It also gives you the chance to observe from the back seat on regular driving and observe road-positioning on manoeuvres from the kerb, which really helped me with parallel parking. As you would with lorry-driving, there's the obligatory lunch stop!
The instructors are all well versed in teaching outside of driving and are very friendly/helpful. The prices are on par with all of the major driving schools and I believe there is a student discount available. They work out of Luton, Beds and Rushden, Northants, I would presume everywhere in between would be covered as well.
The vehicles used are brand new 1.7l diesel Vauxhall Astras, which are a dream to drive for anyone from novice to seasoned driver.
I can't recommend them enough. read more