Driving lessons- what is normal and what is not?

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I’m a mature-ish learner (late 20s) and started lessons two months ago so have had around 14 hours of lessons at this stage. I’m just wondering whether my driving instructor is worth continuing with or whether I should find a new one really. Can anyone enlighten me as to whether this is normal progress in that time?

So far we have covered:
Up and downhill starts
Lots of junctions, roundabouts and traffic lights (I.e learning to come to a stop then set off again smoothly, navigating around the roundabout etc)
All three parking manoeuvres. Currently only mastered forward bay parking (which I’m imagining is easiest for even the most experienced drivers!) but struggling with reverse bay and parallel parking, especially reverse bay.
Got up to 4th gear on a national speed limit road.

I really got on with him to begin with and felt confident but the last lesson was awful from start to finish. I stalled three times when I’d previously only stalled twice in 12 hours of lessons. We mostly practised reverse bay parking over and over again and I screwed it up the majority of times. I felt like he was getting frustrated and a bit pushy which really didn’t help.

Everyone I have spoken to says bad lessons are normal from time to time so just to move on from it which I realise is the rational thing to do, I’m just dreading the next one!

He’s an instructor with a very well known driving company but he only works part time and has another full time job on the side so he can’t commit to giving me a solid lesson each week. Sometimes I go ten days without one which I don’t think is helping my confidence levels. He also doesn’t prompt me to use my mirrors very much so have to remember myself because I know that’s a good reason to fail the test!

I’m hoping to pass in two months time really for various reasons which I have made clear to him and he agrees it should be doable. Should I stick it out with him to ensure this is possible or switch? I don’t know what to do!

For me, I needed the consistency of 1.5-hour lessons twice each week to keep the momentum up. I wouldn't have stayed with a driver who couldn't provide this.

I also had a driving instructor who was unavailable for consistent blocks of lessons and it really hindered my progress. I found the most helpful thing for me to learn was to do as much driving as often as possible so I'd suggest you find someone who's more available.

I'm not sure if what you're learning is a little or a lot but I would say that because you're eager to pass asap and he can't fit you in that much, plus a few other things you've mentioned, you should definitely go elsewhere and have a good solid lesson each week. Maybe even twice a week if they can fit you in and you can afford it.

14 hours of lessons and you haven't hit 5th gear yet? You say 4th gear on a national speed limit road, however the national speed limit is determined by the road itself. What was the limit and what speed were you doing?

60mph was limit and I got up to about that in 4th gear. Haven’t touched 5th gear yet. We haven’t been on an A road or motorway, is it normal for instructors to do that or is that something people pay extra for? Sorry, I’m a complete novice.

I started having three hours a week last week split into two lessons because I’m very eager to pass ASAP. The first lesson was brilliant, couldn’t have gone better. Second lesson, I don’t know what happened but I just messed the majority up and it’s majorly set me back confidence wise. I think asking me to park again and again for 40 minutes wasn’t the best way of handling it, especially when he could see how much I was struggling!

He sounds normal apart from the fact he can't give solid lessons each week. He shouldn't take on to many pupils that he can't do weekly for all.

The national average for passing a driving test now (it changed in 2017) is 45 hours in lessons and 20 hours in a personal car.

14 hours isn't really much so the amount you've done is good so far I think.

You might never drive on a motorway on a lesson theyve only allowed driving instructors to take pupils on them for the last year but it's not part of the test.

You will at some point go on a dual carriageway.

On the A road you've been on has it been quite bendy as those roads I won't get into 5/6th gear. I will when it's straight A roade though.

Hey I never post but thought I’d reply to this .. been in the same boat as you ..
It’s taken me 4 instructors to find the right one ..
Been doing my driving lessons for about 4 years now
1st one was just driving around wasn’t aloud to do much as apparently I wasn’t ready was driving with her for a year ..
2nd one was a bit weird ( not very precessional comments)
3rd one was completely rubbish
And now I’m on my 4th instructor his amazing ..
So far done the Monovers spelt that wrong ..
Country lanes
Roundabouts .. ( I’m dreadful at these )
Highways
Junctions
Sat nav
Show me
Tell me
I’ve just done Atleast 2 hour lessons just going round roundabouts
Done 1 hour lesson on parking bays reverse parking on the left and right ..
I’ve been doing it for so long now even I still sod up .. but it’s good as u learn from it
Maybe book a lesson with someone else explain ur concerns and see what they say it won’t hurt to see how u feel when u try someone new .. also be consistent .. it took me 4 instructors to find the one I have now he is amazing helped me loads I’m a anxiety driver panic loads but finally booked my test in July .. we currently practising mock tests now just so I can me more relaxed on the day he is a really good instructor u will have that feeling with them when u no they are the right person for you
Good luck

I do think he’s setting me back by not being able to offer a solid time. By the sounds of it he has a handful of pupils plus a full time job plus a family to contend with too. Think it’s too much and another thing I’ve noticed is he isn’t keeping any sort of record of what we’ve covered so relies on me to fill him in each lesson. I don’t think that’s the most professional thing. He is relatively new to instructing which may make a difference.

Thank you for all of your responses, looking into new instructors now. Just worried I’ll pick a horrible one , heard too many bad stories of mean pushy ones...

The speed at which the lessons are progressing sounds normal to me, but then I learned in Norway which has one of the most comprehensive driving courses in Europe (if not the world? not sure about that claim though). I passed first time and it took me 6 months of lessons to progress through everything properly with weekly 2 hour lessons.

BUT, if you're not happy with your instructor for any reason at all, or if you're having a bad lesson, change instructor! Please do. This relationship is very important and will make all the difference to you in your test. Find an instructor you like and who doesn't make you feel like you had a 'bad lesson'. It'll be worth it.

He sounds overloaded. Not knowing where you are is a red flag.

When I got in my instructors car he knew what the plan for the lesson was and it was always based on what we had done the previous lesson ie if I had a bad day doing one thing we'd go and try it to help me remember how to do it.

You could always ask another driving instructor for an assessment lesson. Most will do it then you can see what they think to and if they think your at a good stage for the hours you have done.

Isn’t forward bay parking just driving forwards?!

It seems a tad on the slow side for progress. I had 7 lessons before my test.

And the 5th gear thing is bizarre. Why is it different from the other gears? How can one even drive for 14 hours without using it?