Notorious test centre conquered with flawless pass

Molly Kennedy, of Hightown Road, Liversedge, passed her practical driving test without a single fault at Heckmondwike Test Centre, which had hit the headlines last year for having an especially low pass rate.

She said it was probably helpful that she did not know about the low pass rate at Heckmondwike before she took the test.

“I’m really pleased, it’s a big achievement, and I’m really pleased for Andrea, my driving instructor,” Molly said.

“I didn’t even think I was going to pass!”

Molly, 17, started learning to drive last July and is looking to buy a car.

Molly’s instructor, Andrea Siviter, said in the eight years she had taught people to drive this was the first time one of her students had passed without any faults.

She said: “Even the examiner said it had been years since they had seen someone pass with no faults.”

Last August the Spenborough Guardian reported that a quarter of the worst drivers across the country took their tests at Heckmondwike Test Centre.

Figures released by the Driving Standards Agency showed that five of the 20 aspiring drivers who made the highest number of attempts took their tests at Heckmondwike.

Between them, the five drivers had attempted the practical driving test 158 times.