Gearshift Driving School

Independent manual driving school in Plymouth

Gearshift Driving School is an independent driving school based in Plymouth, United Kingdom, run by Marcin Katarzynski, a DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) approved driving instructor. The school operates with a single instructor and a single vehicle, a manual transmission Mazda CX-30 equipped with dual controls, and has no call centre: the learner deals directly with the instructor in every lesson.

The business focuses exclusively on manual driving. The school expressly states that it does not offer lessons in automatic vehicles, so anyone looking for that option will not find the right service here.

Coverage area and learning environment

The service covers Plymouth postcodes PL1, PL2, PL3, PL4, PL5 and PL6, with pickup and drop-off included from the learner's home, workplace or college. The city's practical test centre, located on Ernesettle Lane (PL5), is within that coverage area.

The school describes Plymouth as a demanding environment for learning: busy A-roads and dual carriageways, large roundabouts, narrow residential streets, hills, and the city-centre one-way system. According to its approach, that variety is why all lessons last two hours.

Instructor profile

Marcin Katarzynski is a DVSA-approved instructor with four years' experience teaching people to drive in Plymouth. He teaches in English and Polish. As a one-man school, the learner keeps the same instructor and the same car in every session, and can contact him directly with any questions.

Teaching method

The school adapts the format of each lesson to how the learner learns. Its approach includes explanations in plain language, with diagrams when helpful; a predictable structure in which the learner knows what the session will cover before setting off; progress in manageable steps; repetition of exercises as many times as needed; and calm communication, without raising the voice or putting pressure on the learner.

The material notes that this approach has been used with nervous learners and also with autistic people or people with ADHD, always at the student's pace. The school invites learners to say what adjustments would make lessons easier, such as how instructions are given, how much conversation there is or how the session is planned, and welcomes parents to ask about these matters.

Lesson types

• Beginner lessons: for those who have never driven or have only had a few goes with family. We start with the basics and build up step by step.
• Refresher lessons: for those who passed their test a while ago and haven't driven since, feel nervous after a break, or want to get comfortable again before a new job or a new car.
• Driving test preparation: for learners who already drive to a good standard or have had lessons elsewhere and want to prepare the manoeuvres, the test questions and what test day is like.

Prices and payment options

All lessons last two hours and include pickup and drop-off within postcodes PL1 to PL6. The catalogue published at the time of the analysis lists three options: weekly lesson at £92 per session (£46 an hour, pay as you go); five-lesson block for £440 in total (10 hours at £44 an hour); and ten-lesson block for £860 in total (20 hours at £43 an hour), presented as the best value option. Blocks are paid before the first lesson and are valid for three months.

How lessons work and test preparation

The process begins with a conversation about the learner's starting point and goals. From there, each session builds on the previous one and ends with a review of what went well and what needs work, agreeing the next steps and booking the next lesson. When the learner is ready, sessions focus on the practical test: manoeuvres, show me, tell me questions and familiarisation with test day.

Requirements, cancellations and availability

Before the first lesson the learner needs their provisional driving licence and, if applicable, glasses or contact lenses if they need them to read a number plate from 20 metres. Everything else is in the vehicle, which has dual controls. The school asks for at least 48 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule a lesson; lessons cancelled with less notice are charged in full. It offers weekly lessons and blocks, and considers more than one lesson a week on a case-by-case basis depending on availability. It does not offer intensive courses as a separate option.

Track record and reviews

The page lists recent passes between January and September 2026 and several Google reviews, mostly from September 2026, highlighting the instructor's patience, the clarity of his explanations and first-time passes. The company operating the school is Gearshift LTD, which trades under the name Gearshift Driving School.

Location and contact

Phone: 07415 692969 · Email: gearshiftschool@gmail.com · Hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00–17:00