Gillingham School (Dorset) has in recent times ceased to allow 6th former's to use free periods during their school timetable to be used to take driving lessons. The aim of this petition is to show that there is public opinion contrary to this decision made by the school and in so doing to put public pressure on the school to overturn this decision on the following grounds.

1) Driving lessons are educational - They are proven to develop many skills that are important for adult and working life such as patience, communication, decision making, dealing with pressure and an ability to multitask.

2) Driving Licenses are often required for jobs - Many jobs now list a driving licence as "essential" or "desirable" regardless of whether driving is actually an obvious requirement of the job. Having a driving licence greatly increases employabilty.

3) Road Safety - Without being able to take lessons during the working day young drivers will not experiencing many of the hardest and most dangerous driving conditions during their learning period which will increase the risk to themselves and others on the road.

4) Lower pass rates and increased costs to learn - Driving tests are carried out locally only during school hours and therefore not being able to take lessons during these times then they will not be used to the conditions that they will encounter on test and will consequently be more likely to fail thus increasing their cost of learning to drive.

5) Less time for pupils to do homework - Students are currently already required to sign up many of their free periods to study sessions. Not allowing them to take unassigned free periods for driving lessons does increase pressures on their time at home which may result in less attention given to homework and may actually hinder their academic achievements.

Ed Ralph (DVSA Approved Driving Instructor).