DRIVING LESSONS
Automatic Lessons Coming Easter 2026
Available in Ely and surrounding areas, across Cambridgeshire CB6 & CB7 Postcodes
From Easter 2026, WS Driving School will offer automatic transmission lessons.
Lessons will be 120 minutes in duration.
All tuition is delivered one-to-one and tailored to your individual needs and learning style. Whether you're a complete beginner, returning to driving after a break, or a nervous driver looking to build confidence — lessons are structured around you, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Lesson Prices — Simple, Transparent, No Surprises
One price for all time slots — evenings, weekends and bank holidays included. No peak time supplements, no small print.
Pay As You Go — £49 per hour
6 Hour Block — £276 (£46 per hour)
10 Hour Block — £440 (£44 per hour)
Refresher Lessons (full licence holders) — £52 per hour, PAYG only
Block bookings are paid in advance.
Refresher lessons are for full licence holders returning to driving and are charged at £52/hr to reflect the higher mileage covered per session.
Intensive & Semi-Intensive Automatic Courses
Learn faster. Learn properly. No shortcuts.
If you want to learn to drive more quickly than traditional weekly lessons allow, an intensive course could be the right choice — but only if it's done properly.
WS Driving School intensive courses are built around one principle: skills that stick, not hours that tick.
That's why I don't offer traditional "pass in a week" crash courses. Spreading your learning over several weeks rather than cramming into five consecutive days leads to better skill retention and safer drivers. My intensive and semi-intensive programmes give you the pace you want without sacrificing the foundation you need.
You learn with me throughout — same instructor, every session, in the same brand new Ford Puma. No agency. No strangers. No surprises.
Course Packages
Test-Ready Polish — 10 Hours — £470 (£47/hour, saving £20) Ideal for learners with solid experience (25+ hours elsewhere) who need a focused final phase before test. Spread over 2–3 weeks.
Semi-Intensive Programme — 20 Hours — £920 (£46/hour, saving £60) A structured progression from developing learner to test-ready driver. Spread over 4–6 weeks.
Complete Intensive Course — 30 Hours — £1,350 (£45/hour, saving £120) The most popular option. Covers everything from foundations to test standard. Spread over 6–8 weeks.
Beginner to Test — 40 Hours — £1,760 (£44/hour, saving £200) For complete beginners or those returning after a long gap. Spread over 10–12 weeks.
All packages include: Total Drive app, Highway Code book, Know Your Traffic Signs book, test booking support, The Honest Truth road safety programme and access to the private WS Driving School Facebook community.
Not Sure Which Package You Need?
That's completely normal — most people aren't. Every learner is different and the right package depends on your current experience, your test timeline and your goals. Get in touch for an honest, no-pressure conversation about what would suit you best.
📞 Call or WhatsApp: 07717 179637 📧 Email: pass@ws-driving-school.co.uk
What's included with every lesson:
✅ Instruction from Wayne Smith — DVSA-approved ADI, 6+ years experience, 50+ five-star Google reviews
✅ Brand new Ford Puma automatic — modern, comfortable, excellent visibility
✅ Access to the Total Drive app — lesson scheduling, theory test revision, progress tracking and 3D training tools
✅ After your 5th lesson — free hard copies of the Highway Code and Know Your Traffic Signs (£10+ value)
✅ Test booking support at no extra charge
✅ Access to The Honest Truth national road safety programme
✅ Invitation to the private WS Driving School Facebook community
No hidden extras. Everything above is included in your standard lesson rate.
"Automatic learners typically need around 30–40 hours of professional instruction before reaching test standard — fewer than manual learners, because there's no clutch or gearwork to master. A 10 hour block (non intensive) at £44/hr with everything included is genuine value — and there are no hidden extras whatever time of day you learn." —
Wayne Smith, WS Driving School
LEARNER LESSONS
Learn ALL the skills you need to pass your driving test AND be safe on the roads for your future driving.
All tuition is delivered on a one-to-one basis, and tailored to meet the specific needs and learning style of the individual.
If you're nervous about driving then let's fix it together.
Your first step in your driving journey will begin once you are 17 years old (or older) and have in your possession a provisional driving licence. You can apply for your licence HERE
Your progress through your lessons will be set at a pace that suits you; everybody is different.
Throughout your lessons we will be following a learner syllabus and your progress will be recorded on your own personal app. There is also space for you to keep your own reflective logs where we will agree your objective for each lesson and access your achievements:
The syllabus starts with the basic skills of cockpit drill and moving off and stopping safely right through to dual carriageway and sat nav driving. The full syllabus includes:
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Basic skills; cockpit drill and safety checks, move off safely, MSPSL routine, steering, stop safely.
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Junctions; approaching, crossroads, roundabouts, traffic lights, turn left/emerge left, turn right/emerge right.
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Manoeuvres; bay park forward, bay park reverse, emergency stop, left reverse, pull up on the right, reverse parallel park, turn in the road.
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Road Use; anticipation of hazards, clearance of obstructions, following distance, join/leave dual carriageway, meeting traffic, overtaking/LADA, pedestrian crossing, rural roads, traffic lane position, use of speed.
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Other; dual carriageway, sat nav drive, show me on the move, show me tell me questions.
I will provide you with all the help and support that is required and my aim is to assist you in becoming a safe and responsible driver for life.
If you come with previous driving experience or have taken other lessons we will start with assessing your current skills and build on them. Many of my pupils come with no experience at all which is also fine as we will start from the beginning and build on firm foundations.
If you are able to supplement your lessons with private practice in another car this can significantly increase your chances of passing your test. The person supervising you must be over 21 years of age and have held a full driving licence for 3 years.
As a footnote the DVSA recommends around 45 hours of professional driving and a further 22 hours of private practice.
PASS PLUS TRAINING
PASS PLUS is a training scheme for new drivers. Its aim is to improve your driving skills and make you a safer driver. It can also lead to insurance discounts.
The scheme has been designed by the Driving Standards Agency, now part of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), with the help of the motor insurance and driving instruction industries, to develop your skills and knowledge in areas where you may have limited experience.
PASS PLUS will benefit you by:
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enabling you to gain quality driving experience safely
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helping you become a more skilful driver
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teaching you how to develop a Positive Driving style which is both enjoyable and safe
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reducing your risk of being involved in a road crash
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saving you money on your car insurance premiums**
** Subject to status. Candidates are advised to check available discounts with participating insurance companies.
PASS PLUS with WS Driving School consists of 6 x 2 hours training and the emphasis is on developing your practical driving skills.
There is no test at the end. Instead you'll be assessed throughout: you must cover all of the modules to complete the training.
Current pricing can be found (and select the Full Licence Holders option) here.
The PASS PLUS syllabus
Module 1 Introduction (Part 1) Town Driving (Part 2)
Module 2 All Weather Driving
Module 3 Out of Town Driving & Rural Roads
Module 4 Night Driving
Module 5 Dual Carriageways
Module 6 Motorways
REFRESHER LESSONS
Refresher driving lessons are a perfect way to improve on certain skills, bump up your road safety or boost your confidence behind the wheel.
We understand that there are several reasons why motorists require refresher lessons; from needing additional assurance to get behind the wheel following an accident to building confidence when driving on a motorway or at night – I will listen to your needs and tailor your course accordingly.
Do refresher courses include night-time or motorway driving lessons?
Yes, if that's what you need. In fact, there are many areas of driving that you can cover during your refresher lessons, here are just a few:
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Night driving
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Motorway Driving
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Country roads
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Roundabouts
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Parking (reverse manoeuvre)
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Traffic signs
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Speed awareness
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Confidence
Can I specify what I’d like to cover during my refresher lessons?
Of course you can!
How long is a driving refresher course?
That's entirely down to you. If you're just getting back into driving after some time off or if you've just passed but are feeling a little nervous behind the wheel, we usually recommend booking 6 hours worth of instruction to make sure you're getting the most from your experience. If you need more time, we can easily top you up for a few more hours.
How much are refresher lessons?
View the current pricing (and select the Full Licence Holders option) here.
ECO DRIVING
The small changes we make in our day-to-day lives make a big difference to the planet, and driving is no different. The fuel you pump in and the accelerator you press contribute to your CO2 footprint. Eco-safe driving helps to maximise the potential of every trip you make.
Eco-safe driving is your key to enjoyable drives, enhanced mileage, and lower maintenance costs. A few simple changes can drastically improve how many miles your car completes – bringing you closer to those celebratory six-figure mileage counts.
Eco Driving is of particular interest to me and it is for that reason that WS Driving School became Certified Carbon Neutral in February 2022. You can read more here
What is eco safe driving?
Better for the environment and more respectful to the whole community, driving with a nod to eco friendliness is a no-brainer. Fuel consumption and vehicle emissions are a big focus for all car owners. The more we spend, the more we produce. This simple equation turns petrol or diesel into the fumes which find their way into the earth's atmosphere.
Eco-safe driving is a style. It is something that you can change tomorrow. This guide will help you take on the challenge, improve your overall driving, and reduce your CO2 footprint.
Key Elements:
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Learn how to prepare your vehicle for optimum economy
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Identify and eliminate habits, which will could be impacting on you fuel economy
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Become more skilful in all areas of driving
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Take control and demonstrate your commitment to lowering your carbon footprint
How much are Eco Driving lessons?
The current pricing can be found (and select the Full Licence Holders option) here. Generally we recommend 4 x 2 hour lessons however this can vary depending on the individual's needs.
Element 1:
Looks at things you can do, to ensure your vehicle is as economical and efficient as it can be. We look at your tyre pressures, how often you get your vehicle serviced, if you’re carrying any unnecessary weight in your vehicle, and any other things, which can be impacting on your fuel usage rate.
These things may be overlooked by many people, but by making sure your vehicle is well serviced, have correctly inflated tyres, and is not carrying any unnecessary weight can help improve fuel economy by up to 10% or more.
Element 2:
We provide bespoke on-road training. This element, which makes up the vast proportion of the course, is designed to help you become much more fuel efficient in your approach to driving.
Read more about Eco-Driving here.