Akilah Morris v The Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors

Facts

The appellant, Akilah Morris, was an aspiring driving instructor who had applied to the Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors for a third trainee licence. Her appeal against the Registrar's decision came before the First-tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber). Under Regulation 14(b) of the Motor Cars (Driving Instruction) Regulations 2025, a trainee licence remains in force only until the day immediately following the trainee's third unsuccessful attempt at the instructional ability test. By a form GRC5 dated 14 July 2026, the Registrar informed the Tribunal that the appellant had failed her third attempt at the instructional ability test on 13 July 2026, with the consequence that she was no longer eligible to hold a trainee licence at all. The Registrar accordingly applied for the appeal to be struck out. On 14 July 2026 the Tribunal directed the appellant to provide, by 28 July 2026, any submissions as to why the appeal should not be struck out. The appellant did not respond to that direction. The matter was determined without a hearing, on the papers, by Judge Harris, the decision being given on 19 August 2026.