Saheed Hakeem v Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors

Facts

The appellant, Saheed Hakeem, applied on 9 January 2026 for a fourth trainee driving instructor licence, having already held three such licences amounting to 18 months from 15 July 2024. In representations dated 7 January 2026 he explained that he had been unable to make full use of the earlier licences because he was caring for his mother, who had critical health problems. The Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors refused the application on 5 March 2026, reasoning that the supporting evidence duplicated that used for the successful third licence application, that none of the previous licences had been returned, that 18 months was more than adequate to gain the experience needed to pass the Part 3 test, that Parliament had not intended trainee licences to run for as long as it takes an applicant to pass, and that a trainee licence was neither necessary for taking the Part 3 test nor an alternative to registration as a fully-qualified Approved Driving Instructor. The appellant appealed to the First-tier Tribunal on 16 March 2026, relying on unforeseen emergencies, his caring responsibilities and his commitment to completing training. In his Response the Registrar noted a failed Part 3 test on 10 September 2025, three cancelled test appointments and available alternatives to a trainee licence. The appeal was heard remotely by CVP on 28 August 2026, the appellant attending and giving oral evidence.