Dan Ison — DVSA ORDIT Grade A Driving Instructor & Trainer in Bolton

Dan Ison is a DVSA ADI and ORDIT Grade A (51/51) instructor trainer in Bolton. Verify ORDIT, Cardington, RoSPA and IAM credentials, then book lessons or ADI training.

Dan Ison (Daniel Ison) founded Harwood Driving School in 2012. The school is based in Harwood, Bolton, in postcode BL2 — not Bromley Cross and not BL7. Lessons start with door-to-door pick-up in Harwood and the surrounding Bolton districts, then move onto the roads learners actually use: residential streets, the A666 corridor, and the approaches to the DVSA practical test centre at Weston Street.

He holds two DVSA roles that are easy to confuse. As an Approved Driving Instructor he is licensed to teach learner drivers. As an ORDIT Grade A trainer, inspected on 21 December 2021 with a recorded score of 51 out of 51, he is also approved to train those instructors. That second registration is what ADI Parts 1, 2 and 3, and Standards Check support, sit on. It is a training-register status, not a league table.

The advanced-driving side of the same record is separate again. The Cardington Special Test (2016) is a DVSA assessment of how an instructor drives, graded on Roadcraft. RoSPA Gold Tutor (2025) and IAM RoadSmart Advanced Driver (2016) are civilian advanced qualifications. Pass Plus registration dates from November 2012. Certificate images and GOV.UK register links are on the credentials page. This page is the person index: who he is, what the grades mean, and who the work is for.

You are learning from an instructor who also trains instructors. That is an ORDIT role, not a ranking. Book driving lessons with Dan or ask about instructor training.

Credentials, in plain English

How to verify

This table is an index. The certificates and GOV.UK registers are on the credentials page.

What these qualifications mean for a learner

ORDIT is about instructional technique. The inspection scores lesson planning, risk management, and teaching and learning strategies. A learner does not sit that inspection. What they get is a coach who has been measured on how they teach, not only on whether they can drive. The examiner comment on Dan’s report notes client-centred learning. That is why nervous learners and instructor trainees are not two different businesses — they are the same method applied to different licences.

Cardington, RoSPA and IAM are about the driving itself. IPSGA from Roadcraft, observation, and independent decisions on the road. They do not replace the ADI Green Badge. They sit beside it. A newly qualified driver who later wants Pass Plus, motorway work, or a refresh after a long gap is using that advanced-driving strand, not the ORDIT register.

The practical test is a checkpoint. The objective is driving unsupervised afterwards. The DVSA does not publish practical test routes. Local familiarity with Bolton roads and the Weston Street test centre still matters: roundabouts, speed-limit changes, and the mix of residential and dual-carriageway work around the town. Claiming an unpublished exact route does not. Practice on the public roads around the centre is legitimate; inventing a secret list of examiner turns is not.

Grade A ORDIT trainer versus a standard ADI

A Grade A ORDIT trainer and a standard Approved Driving Instructor are not the same job. Both may teach learners. Only the ORDIT-registered trainer is DVSA-inspected on their ability to train instructors. This table is category-level. It does not name other schools.

Harwood, Bolton (BL2), and Weston Street

Harwood Driving School takes its name from the BL2 district. Lessons for people who live in Harwood use roads such as Stitch-mi-Lane, Lea Gate, Hardy Mill Road and Longsight Road before joining the wider Bolton network. Bromley Cross is a neighbouring BL7 village with its own page. Dan’s person record stays attached to Harwood and BL2.

Most Bolton learners take the practical test at Weston Street. Lesson planning uses the public roads around that centre: multi-lane roundabouts, the A666, and the change from quiet residential streets to faster commuter corridors. Bury learners more often use Smith Street.

Nervous learners

First time pass with 0 faults on my driving test today. To begin with, I was such a nervous driver but Dan simple was amazing who put me at ease.

Kyomi, Bolton

I would 100% recommend Harwood driving school. He helped me with my nerves and his lessons were good quality and good value.

Chloe, Bury

Dan made me feel calm. Passed first time!

Sarah, Bolton

Test-day nerves and first-time passes

Just passed first time!!! Dan is extremely helpful and professional. Never let me down. Always calm and understanding.

Vanessa, Bolton

So happy!!! Passed first time. Dan was always on time with structured lessons which adapted to my needs.

Niamh, Bolton

Amazing instructor, I never got let down! Everything was explained to me so clearly & I passed first time

Georgia, Bolton

Structured lessons and reliability

Really happy I've past my driving test with only two Minors, would totally recommend Dan for structured driving lessons.

Taylor, Bolton

My experience of driving with Dan has been highly enjoyable. He has been very reliable throughout. Thank you very much :)

Emma, Bury

Dan is an excellent instructor who always made the lessons enjoyable. He was always on time and never cancelled. He helped me pass first time!

James, Bury

Learners who needed a different pace

I never thought I would pass my driving test with my dsylexia and dsypraxia but today I passed with 3 minors. Dan is a very patient instructor.

Rebekah, Bury

Harwood driving school has been an excellent way for me to learn how to drive. Dan is very experienced and professional.

Grant, Bolton

Passed my driving test today with Dan as my instructor, great instructor and couldn't have passed without him.

Ryan, Bolton

Who Dan works with

• Beginners — structured first lessons and early road craft.
• Nervous learners — client-centred pacing without dropping the standard.
• Automatic lessons — the same syllabus without clutch work.
• Refresher drivers — post-test or returning drivers who need a reset.
• Weston Street test prep — practice on roads and junctions used around the Bolton test centre.
• Instructor trainees — ADI Parts 1–3 under an ORDIT-registered trainer.

Related expertise

• Driving lessons in Bolton
• Motorway lessons
• ADI Part 1
• ADI Part 2
• ADI Part 3
• ORDIT evidence

Dan Ison FAQ

Who is Dan Ison?

Dan Ison (Daniel Ison) is the founder of Harwood Driving School in Harwood, Bolton (BL2). He is a DVSA Approved Driving Instructor and a DVSA ORDIT Grade A instructor trainer.

Is Dan Ison a DVSA Approved Driving Instructor?

Yes. His ADI Green Badge and Standards Check Grade A (50/51) are published on the credentials page and can be checked on Find a driving instructor on GOV.UK.

What is Dan Ison’s ORDIT grade?

Grade A, with a recorded instructional assessment score of 51 out of 51. ORDIT trainers are inspected by the DVSA on their ability to train instructors. Grade A is the pass required to remain on the register.

What does a 51/51 ORDIT score mean?

It is the total recorded on the DVSA ORDIT inspection across lesson planning, risk management, and teaching and learning strategies. The report image is on the credentials page.

What is the Cardington Special Test?

It is the DVSA’s advanced driving assessment for qualified instructors, taken at Cardington and graded on Roadcraft. Dan’s certificate is on the credentials page.

Does Dan Ison teach automatic as well as manual?

Yes. Harwood Driving School provides both manual and automatic lessons. Book through Dan’s instructor profile or the main booking page.

Does Dan Ison teach nervous learners?

Yes. Lessons use client-centred learning. The ORDIT inspection comment on his report notes client-centred learning specifically.

Does Dan Ison train driving instructors?

Yes. That is what ORDIT registration is for: ADI Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Standards Check support. Start on the instructor training page.

What is the difference between a Grade A ORDIT trainer and a standard ADI?

An ADI is licensed to teach learner drivers. A Grade A ORDIT trainer is DVSA-inspected on their ability to train those instructors. Dan holds both: ADI Green Badge with Standards Check Grade A (50/51), and ORDIT Grade A 51/51 issued 21 December 2021.

Is Harwood in BL7?

No. Harwood is BL2. Bromley Cross is BL7 and has its own driving-lessons page. Dan’s school address and person record use Harwood, Bolton, BL2.