Latest news with #examiner
The Guardian
10-08-2025
- Automotive
- The Guardian
Driving examiners in Great Britain urged to offer ‘formal' or ‘chatty' tests
Having a mardy person sitting next to you in the car can be a distraction at the best of times, but it is all the worse when the grump is your driving examiner. In an effort to avoid additional 'potential anxiety' during tests and bolster pass rates among female candidates, a report commissioned by a government agency has suggested asking people taking a test whether they would like their examiner to be 'chatty' or 'formal'. The report by the transport research group TRL said men were found to be less affected by their examiner's demeanour, while women were more likely to notice and interpret it, and that this might prompt self-judgment and worry about how they were doing. Men are more likely than women to pass a driving test, according to records dating back to 2007, with the annual pass rate for male candidates ranging from 47% to 55%, compared with 41% to 48% for female candidates. The TRL study on the gender imbalance was commissioned by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which oversees driving tests in Great Britain. It found that people were intimidated when their examiner did not make any pleasantries. The research was based on interviews with learner drivers, people who had recently passed their test, instructors and examiners. Among the interviewees, one successful candidate said their examiner had been 'very down to business' with 'no pleasantries', which made them 'feel just a little bit more intimidated'. But an instructor said a 'really chatty examiner' could end up 'distracting the student'. Another instructor said having a conversation with a candidate could 'slightly distract' the learner when they wanted to be '100% concentrating'. In the report's recommendations about how to reduce 'potential inequalities around gender', it noted that examiners' communication approaches could be interpreted in various ways by different candidates. It said: 'Examiners could ask candidates at the beginning of the test what kind of communication ('formal', 'chatty') would put them in the best frame of mind for driving to the best of their ability. 'Such a change would enable examiners to remain focused on ability and outcomes but do so in such a way that does not introduce potential anxiety that is unrelated to driving competence in candidates.' Emma Bush, the managing director of AA Driving School, told the PA Media agency: 'It is probably asking a lot of examiners to act 'formal' or 'chatty' on demand. Candidates probably don't want a sergeant major nor a comedian examining them. 'What all candidates want is a reassuring voice and presence, combined with a fair and professional approach to the test.' The study found no evidence that the gender of examiners had a direct impact on the candidates' test experience. It noted that female candidates were more likely than their male counterparts to pass the driving theory test, which it attributed to women generally doing more preparation. A spokesperson for the DVSA said it was 'committed to equality, diversity and inclusion' and wanted all candidates to 'receive the highest level of customer experience'. They added: 'This is an important piece of research by TRL and we're now reviewing the considerations put forward to reduce inequality in driver testing in Great Britain, and help us further develop the guidance available to learner drivers as they prepare for their tests.' The average waiting time for a driving test in Great Britain as of the end of June was 22.3 weeks.
The Guardian
10-08-2025
- Automotive
- The Guardian
Driving examiners in Great Britain urged to offer ‘formal' or ‘chatty' tests
Having a mardy person sitting next to you in the car can be a distraction at the best of times, but it is all the worse when the grump is your driving examiner. In an effort to avoid additional 'potential anxiety' during tests and boost pass rates of female candidates, a report commissioned by a government agency has suggested asking people taking a test if they would like their examiner to be 'chatty' or 'formal'. The report by the transport research group TRL said men were found to be less affected by their examiner's demeanour, while women were more likely to notice and interpret it, and that this might prompt 'self-judgment and worry about how they are doing'. Men are more likely than women to pass a driving test, according to records dating back to 2007, with the annual pass rate for male candidates ranging from 47% to 55%, while for female candidates it is 41%-48%. The TRL study on the gender imbalance, commissioned by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which oversees driving tests in Great Britain, found that people were intimidated when their examiner did not make any pleasantries. This was based on interviews with learner drivers, people who had recently passed their test, instructors and examiners. Among the interviewees, one successful candidate said their examiner had been 'very down to business' with 'no pleasantries', which made them 'feel just a little bit more intimidated'. But an instructor said a 'really chatty examiner' could end up 'distracting the student', while another instructor said having a conversation with a candidate could 'slightly distract' the learner when they 'want to be 100% concentrating'. In the report's recommendations about how to reduce 'potential inequalities around gender', it noted that examiners' communication approaches could be interpreted in various ways by different candidates. It said: 'Examiners could ask candidates at the beginning of the test what kind of communication ('formal', 'chatty') would put them in the best frame of mind for driving to the best of their ability. 'Such a change would enable examiners to remain focused on ability and outcomes but do so in such a way that does not introduce potential anxiety that is unrelated to driving competence in candidates.' Emma Bush, the managing director of AA Driving School, told the PA Media agency: 'It is probably asking a lot of examiners to act 'formal' or 'chatty' on demand. Candidates probably don't want a sergeant major nor a comedian examining them. 'What all candidates want is a reassuring voice and presence, combined with a fair and professional approach to the test.' The study found no evidence that the gender of examiners themselves had a direct impact on the candidates' test experience. It noted that female candidates were more likely than their male counterparts to pass the driving theory test, which it attributed to women generally doing more preparation. A spokesperson for the DVSA said it was 'committed to equality, diversity and inclusion' and wanted all candidates to 'receive the highest level of customer experience'. They added: 'This is an important piece of research by TRL and we're now reviewing the considerations put forward to reduce inequality in driver testing in Great Britain, and help us further develop the guidance available to learner drivers as they prepare for their tests.' The average waiting time for a driving test in Great Britain as of the end of June was 22.3 weeks.
The Guardian
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Think you know a lot about Dickens? Then who's this Herbert character?
It's unwise to drill too deeply into the exact questions that come up in a GCSE paper. You can't get a proper sense of proportion when: you most likely don't know the answer the examiners are looking for, or anything about the subject; your kid can't remember what they wrote anyway; and someone on TikTok has the mark scheme. But do they really? Or is it more TikTok nonsense? You'll either get sucked into the catastrophe-vortex, or you fall into the trap of minimising, looking over your metaphorical half-moon glasses and going, 'I'm sure it'll be fine, darling,' like an Edwardian dad. All parents and teachers know this, which is what made last week so very unusual. The English paper set by one of the main examining boards has a character question that encourages pupils to engage deeply with someone in the key text. It might not be the main character, but usually it will be one you've heard of. In Great Expectations, however, they chose Herbert. Maybe you're familiar with the story – there's a hero, there's a love interest, there's an eccentric benefactor, and there's a villain who only appears twice but is very colourful. None of these people are Herbert. There's a kindly father figure, a mother figure, a random bad guy, a merchant and a gold-digger, and, again, none of these are Herbert. Herbert is a nobody. He's the guy in the wedding photo whose name people can't remember by the 10th anniversary. He is – in the modern parlance – not A Thing. Shoehorning everything, or even anything you know about Great Expectations, through the character of Herbert is like trying to explain photosynthesis using a fingernail and some gravel. It's been the talk of the town. I walked into a Starbucks and overheard two people of about my age going: 'Who the hell is Herbert?' This is probably the most talked-about Herbert has ever been. So, a great day for him, but a disaster for everyone else. Zoe Williams is a Guardian columnist
BreakingNews.ie
19-05-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Court confirms examiner to Workman's Club as Dublin venue unable to pay debts
The High Court has confirmed the appointment of an examiner to Workman's Club Ltd, part of the former Press Up hospitality and entertainment group founded by Patrick McKillen jnr and Matthew Ryan. Ms Justice Eileen Roberts said on Monday she was satisfied to appoint Declan McDonald of PwC as examiner to the company. Advertisement The confirmation of Mr McDonald as examiner follows a petition for court protection brought on behalf of the company by Kelley Smith SC, instructed by Gavin Simons, partner in AMOSS solicitors, earlier this month. Mr McDonald was appointed as interim examiner to the company following that petition. The company runs the Workman's Club, a bar and live music venue on Dublin's Wellington Quay close to Temple Bar. Declan Murphy BL, for Mr McDonald and instructed by Matheson, told Ms Justice Roberts his client, after preparing an interim examiner report, was of the opinion the company had a reasonable prospect of survival as a going concern. The judge noted the emergence of some potential investors in the company. The court had previously heard the company has an excess of liabilities over assets and is unable to pay debts as they fall due. Advertisement The application to confirm Mr McDonald as examiner was not opposed by a number of creditors represented in court, including the Revenue Commissioners, financiers RELM Capital, and Lolapop Ltd, the landlord of the Wellington Quay property. The judge made orders joining the creditors as notice parties to the proceedings. Press Up was renamed the Eclective Group last February following its take over and running by Cheyne Capital. Press Up, at its height, operated 50 bars, restaurants and hotels with 1,600 employees. Advertisement Ireland Firm linked to Press Up group makes fresh bid to b... Read More In October 2021, the group was refinanced to the tune of €55.5 million by Cheyne Capital and deleveraging began with the selling off of the hotels in the group, the Dean and Clarence, the court petition stated. Full deleveraging did not take place and Cheyne took over management in July 2024 when it says it discovered depleted stock levels, substantial arrears to suppliers, deferred maintenance and limited reinvestment. It was decided that four of its operating entities would enter receivership so that the core business and a broader restructuring could take place along with an injection of new money from Cheyne which took 95 per cent of the group's shareholding in a debt for equity swap and installed its own management team. The company now operates 12 Dublin venues, including Peruke and Periwig on Dawson Street, Doolally on Richmond Street, and the Workman's Club on Wellington Quay. It has 55 full-time employees out of a total of 362.
Irish Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
High Court confirms appointment of examiner to Workman's Club Ltd
The High Court has confirmed the appointment of an examiner to Workman's Club Ltd, part of the former Press Up hospitality and entertainment group founded by Patrick McKillen jnr and Matthew Ryan. Ms Justice Eileen Roberts said on Monday she was satisfied to appoint Declan McDonald of PwC as examiner to the company. The confirmation of Mr McDonald as examiner follows a petition for court protection brought on behalf of the company by Kelley Smith SC, instructed by Gavin Simons, partner in AMOSS solicitors, earlier this month. Mr McDonald was appointed as interim examiner to the company following that petition. The company runs the Workman's Club, a bar and live music venue on Dublin's Wellington Quay close to Temple Bar. READ MORE Declan Murphy BL, for Mr McDonald and instructed by Matheson, told Ms Justice Roberts his client, after preparing an interim examiner report, was of the opinion the company had a reasonable prospect of survival as a going concern. The judge noted the emergence of some potential investors in the company. The court had previously heard the company has an excess of liabilities over assets and is unable to pay debts as they fall due. The application to confirm Mr McDonald as examiner was not opposed by a number of creditors represented in court, including the Revenue Commissioners, financiers RELM Capital, and Lolapop Ltd, the landlord of the Wellington Quay property. The judge made orders joining the creditors as notice parties to the proceedings. Press Up was renamed the Eclective Group last February following its take over and running by Cheyne Capital. Press Up, at its height, operated some 50 bars, restaurants and hotels with 1,600 employees. In October 2021, the group was refinanced to the tune of €55.5 million by Cheyne Capital and deleveraging began with the selling off of the hotels in the group, the Dean and Clarence, the court petition stated. Full deleveraging did not take place and Cheyne took over management in July 2024 when it says it discovered depleted stock levels, substantial arrears to suppliers, deferred maintenance and limited reinvestment. It was decided that four of its operating entities would enter receivership so that the core business and a broader restructuring could take place along with an injection of new money from Cheyne which took 95 per cent of the group's shareholding in a debt for equity swap and installed its own management team. The company now operates 12 Dublin venues, including Peruke and Periwig on Dawson Street, Doolally on Richmond Street, and the Workman's Club on Wellington Quay. It has 55 full time employees out of a total of 362.
