Pathfinder Under 17 Driving

Fantastic experience: A wonderful, step-by-step opportunity to develop driving skills and confidence with expert support and guidance. The team were welcoming, very professional and engaging. A huge thank you to all!

Fantastic experience: Quite simply, this was the most fantastic experience. An amazing, friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic team. The week was fun and educational and I cannot believe that after one week our 15 year old learnt to drive and already has a head start before he can actually get on the road. From the braking at speed demo to the brake and avoid session to driving a van and experiencing an artic lorry and...sports cars, the experience had a hugely positive impact on our son. I would highly recommend taking part in this course for all parents and young drivers. A fantastic charitable organisation that deserves recognition in the public domain.

Fantastic experience: I was absolutely astonished at how well and how quickly my son was able to learn to drive. The instructors were all so helpful and calm, really supportive, and also encouraging. My son loved the course, and I also learnt a lot about cars and learnt some new driving skills, as things are taught differently now to when I learnt over 30 years ago! The week was very well organised and ran very smoothly. I would highly recommend it to anyone with kids coming up to driving age.

Fantastic experience: I've just completed another week with Pathfinder, this time teaching my daughter to drive, with the expert guidance of the Under 17 Car Club. It's been an amazing experience; to take a young person with zero driving knowledge to the point of being a very competent driver who can manoeuvre a car with skill and understand some of the concepts of advanced driving in a single week is miraculous! Above all, the kindness and generosity of all the volunteers is exceptional. This course is so well designed and thorough, it's inclusive and builds confidence - and creates safer drivers. This course and the team are fantastic and I couldn't recommend the Pathfinder course highly enough. Thank you!

Fantastic experience: Will definitely be recommending this course to others!

Fantastic experience: I have just spent the week doing this course with my Daughter (16),.I can honestly say, This has been one of the best experiences of our lives. Day one learning to find the biting point to day five being able to drive and parallel park! its is amazing to see this progression and confidence grow before my daughter starts their driving lesson! The instructors wardens hosts everyone to be honest were amazing. they were approachable and the feedback was so good. Not only did my child learn to drive i learnt many valuable lessons i will take forward in my further driving. I personally learnt so much and i have been driving for years. I can only hope that you will have your child attend this course as they will learn and you will learn valuable lessons.. personally i think this could work with speeders drop the speed awareness course and do the briefings as a package for them. seriously i think Adults can learn as much as the kids. i will recommend this to everyone i can.

Fantastic experience: Amazing place to improve your skills at driving and making sure that you and people around you are safe when you are driving. I went from not knowing how to go from first gear into second to driving Bentley and other super cars without being scared to drive. The organization was excellent and I would absolutely recommend attending this club. Experienced instructors and Marshalls will make sure you are safe at all times. Overall I had an amazing time there

Fantastic experience: Our daughter has just completed the Pathfinder course with the Under 17 Car Club and we could not be more impressed. She started the week as a complete beginner, incredibly nervous and having never even sat in the driver’s seat before. By the end, she was confidently driving, manoeuvring, parking and handling hazards. The progress in just five days was nothing short of incredible. The programme is brilliantly structured, with a perfect balance of practical driving, skills sessions, and really thought-provoking talks from guests such as The British Horse Society and the Fire Service. It’s not just about learning to drive—it’s about building confidence, understanding safety, and preparing young people to be considerate, responsible drivers. The instructors and volunteers were outstanding: patient, encouraging, and knowledgeable. The variety of experiences—trying HGVs, fire trucks, and even a sports car ride at the end—made the week unforgettable. If you’re considering it, don’t hesitate. Even if there isn’t a course near you, it is absolutely worth the travel. A life-changing experience for young people and highly recommended!

Fantastic experience: What a wonderful week watching my son go from a total novice to a tidy little driver. The instruction was such a high standard and delivered with real enthusiasm and care. All the people who run and help on this are amazing and I wish more young drivers could get on and do this. Invaluable experience gained thank you so much! Hoping to come back for some practice days too.

Fantastic experience: Me and my daughter (16) have just completed a weeks driving course with U17 Car Club, following their Pathfinder course. If you have a teenager this is a must! By the end of day one, she could drive the car round the track, I was astonished! I certainly wasn't expecting that! Each day consisted of driving, an hours "proper" instruction (from one of their instructors) and the opportunity through the week to experience, alternative geared vehicles (if you are in a manual you go out in an auto and vice versa), vans, fast cars, electric cars and even an HGV. The briefing sessions (morning, lunch and a couple of afternoons) were short and snappy and to the point, not dry, and got the message across. Safety was a key pointer through the week. It was a value for money week, all you need is time and patience. They are an all inclusive group (even if your child has reached 17, contact them if you think you would benefit from this course, they want everyone to have the opportunity). I am now looking at taking my 13yr old to their U17 Car Club. A massive thank you to all the volunteers and helpers for giving up their time for this experience.

Fantastic experience: This course was recommended to us by friends and I can now do the same myself. A fantastic week of first driving experience for our 16yr old son. We racked up over 100 miles of driving in 30 hours across five days. We had 5x 45 minute instructor sessions, as well as great insight from truck drivers and fire services about road safety. Exceptional value for money, friendly & experienced volunteer instructors, theory test practice daily... so much was packed in to the week. I cannot speak too highly of this course. As the Head of a school, I know what issues there are for learner drivers and their parents. I strongly recommend that every parent books their child onto Pathfinder before they bother with expensive lessons.

Fantastic experience: I have just completed a 5 day under 17s driving course at South Cerney with my son Alfie. He progressed from a non driver on the Monday to a more confident, competent and safe driver by the Friday. Many skills were practiced; parallel parking, reversing, brake & avoid, overtaking and he even got to drive in different vehicles including a Land Rover defender and an automatic BMW X5 at speed. The passion for safe driving from all the volunteers was apparent and how they pass that on to the under 17s was exceptional. We would thoroughly recommend this excellent course to all young people before they start to drive and take lessons. Thank you so much

Fantastic experience: Absolutely fantastic experience at the South Cerney course with my 16 year old. She now feels confident to start driving lessons knowing that she can already drive a car safely, and has also covered a huge amount of the necessary theory in the daily online tests. All the driving instructors were brilliant, volunteers who give their time and expertise freely to support young people to become safe drivers. The marshals and other staff were also friendly and supportive, and many of the young drivers came away with new friends. A fun, safe and highly educational experience for all, including the parents and guardians. Would definitely recommend to any teenager wanting to prepare for driving in the future.

Fantastic experience: My daughter attended a weeks under 17 Pathfinder Driving Course which was amazing. As well as learning how to drive she has learnt how to be a safer driver and I am very grateful for all the volunteers who make this course happen. Totally recommend it to others, it’s brilliant for young drivers. Thank you

Fantastic experience: Our family had a wonderful week in South Cerney. My son was a marshall and had the best week. My daughter drove several different cars as well as a HGV. She is desperate to get driving. Thank you to all the team for making it possible. We all had great fun whilst making sure our young drivers are safe on the roads.

Fantastic experience: Wonderful experience. I had lots of fun over the week and made so much progress - I now feel safe and confident when driving, having never driven before the start of the week. I would recommend this to anyone interested in learning to drive.

Fantastic experience: My Son has had 6 month of practice at the Under 17 car club, and we found the intensive week Pathfinders absolutely brilliant. There is a strong emphasis on safety, good driving habits, mirrors, safety, control and learning the theory, along with more 'advanced driving' principles. All the parking manoeuvres are encouraged, along with extra skills, three-point turns, slaloms and reverse slaloms, such good skills. My son's improvement was massive and he's already close to passing his test standard. They have some theory tests to encourage the teenagers, but the emphasis is hours in the car practicing, along with regular lessons from the helpers, all of who were so enthusiastic and it was so well organised. One of plus benefits as a parent is that it all the emphasis on safety and advanced driving principles rubs off, and I'm sure I'm a better driver for practicing what they teach! Thoroughly recommend, and with the statistic show they have 25% to 30% of the accidents of young drivers when they get out on the road, it's just a brilliant safe way to learn.

Fantastic experience: This was such a brilliant course!! With at least an hour instruction a day, demonstrations and discussions as well as opportunities to drive other vehicles as well as general practice driving around the circuit - it has provided me with a lot of confidence before going on the road.

Fantastic experience: Great experience can highly recommended.

Fantastic experience: An amazing week. Plenty of very helpful and encouraging instructors and marshals. My daughter loved every second! A daily evolving circuit and information and skills building steadily all through the week culminated in one very happy 16 year old (and therefore parent also) at the end. Highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: It's absolutely fantastic what the Pathfinder team are doing. I took my 16 yr old son in preparation for driving soon and I'm pretty sure he's already more competent and safer than most people on the public roads. Any concerns I had before the course about how much time my son would actually get behind the wheel were very quickly dispelled - I think he spent about 30 hours driving during the week. Tom, Chris, Barry and team, thank you.

Fantastic experience: The most valuable week my 16 year old daughter and I have ever spent together. As well as saving a great deal of money on future driving lessons, we now share an understanding of the pressures on young drivers and A safe and systematic approach to driving. I couldn't be more proud of her progress or more grateful to the U17 car club and it's army ofvolunteer for this opportunity. We can't wait to continue driving with them in future.

Fantastic experience: Not only did my son learn to drive, safely and systematically, but we bonded over that week and had a great time.

Fantastic experience: These #SafeAt17 courses are probably one of the best things you can do for your young driver. They will learn a great deal more than just how to drive. Held during the school holidays they are aimed at 15-17 year olds. You will make memories for life during the week, you will both learn alot about road safety and each other. Bursaries are even available if you qualify. You don't have to be into cars, but quite often there is an opportunity to drive something different, HGVs Fire Appliance, Police Cars have all made an appearance in the past.

Fantastic experience: An excellent course which has really helped my children to be prepared for driving lessons at 17 and to become safe drivers. I've also learned a lot myself about road safety risks and how to mange them.