Former primary school teacher Sam Garrard has swapped books for buses to teach Oxford’s newest bus driving recruits how to drive public transport.

After 13 years teaching languages in primary schools across east Oxford, Mr Garrard joined Oxford Bus Company as a bus driver.

Five years on, he is now using his extensive teaching experience to coach new trainees in the bus operators’ training school.

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Mr Garrard said: "Driving buses is a great way of being a public servant and making a difference in people’s lives.

“I enjoy being part of the fabric of the city and part of the wider Oxford Bus Company team. It is really rewarding place to work that offers clear career progression and opportunities for development.

“One of the most important things we look for in a trainee driver is good interpersonal skills.

“When I am not required in the driving school, I regularly drive buses in the city. When I started out as a driver, I drove the X3 route, and it remains my favourite to this day.”

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Mr Garrard joined Oxford Bus Company as a driver before taking on a mentoring role after one year behind the wheel.

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After three years of mentoring newly qualified drivers out on the road he moved into the training school to teach new recruits.

“Driver training is typically made up of 25% classroom-based lessons and 75% on the road, practical training,” Mr Garrard added.

“New drivers are encouraged to get behind the wheel in the first few days of their training to help them adapt quickly to the size of the vehicle and its different features.

“A typical day starts at 7.30am doing checks on the bus. We then head out of the depot to practice driving various routes through the city, around Oxfordshire, and further afield. We incorporate different lessons throughout the day to build up their knowledge and help them develop the skills they need to pass their PCV test.

“It takes an average of 22 hours for someone to go from complete novice to gaining their PCV licence.”

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After passing their PCV test it takes another one to two weeks before trainees go out on the roads, supported by a mentor.

This time is used to cover route learning, type training, policies and procedures and ticket machine training.

Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel and Carousel Buses Interim Managing Director said: “We are actively recruiting people who would like to train to become bus and coach drivers via our fast-track scheme."

Oxford Bus Company recently increased trainee rates of pay and its driver joining bonus by £1,000 to £3,000.

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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF