Gerry Harrington Team Leader
Gerry Harrington
Career Bio – Gerry Harrington
Gerry Harrington is the founder and lead instructor of A Star Driving Academy, a respected and growing driving school based in Haverhill, Suffolk. With over four decades of experience in driver training, Gerry has helped more than 2,000 students achieve their independence behind the wheel, while also mentoring new instructors to build successful careers of their own.
Gerry’s journey began in 1981, when he joined BSM in Dalston, East London, teaching learners in a Mini Metro across North and East London. During that time, he taught a wide variety of pupils, including some well-known household names of the day. After marrying in 1984, Gerry moved with his family to Pembroke Dock in West Wales in 1988, where he ran a successful practice for three years. In 1991, he settled in Haverhill, where he has lived and worked ever since, building A Star Driving Academy into one of the area’s most trusted schools.
As a DVSA Approved Driving Instructor, Gerry has consistently demonstrated the highest professional standards. He has always achieved the top grade (6) in standards checks and, under the current scoring system, was awarded the prestigious Grade A, a level achieved by only a small percentage of instructors nationwide.
A Star Driving Academy is more than just a driving school—it is a true team effort. Every instructor on the team, including Alec Fordham Hughes, Andrew Petherbridge, Mark Bilton, and Osheah Ahmed, has been personally trained and mentored by Gerry. Each instructor shares the same ethos of professionalism, patience, and enthusiasm, ensuring that every pupil receives not only excellent tuition but also genuine support. Unlike some larger franchise models, where instructors may feel isolated or undervalued, A Star prides itself on being a team in the truest sense of the word, working together to support each other and every learner.
Under Gerry’s leadership, A Star is now looking to expand beyond Haverhill into Cambridge, Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds. Together, the team provides both manual and automatic tuition, all dedicated to producing safe, confident drivers.
Outside of driver training, Gerry is also known for his passion for Subbuteo. As the driving force behind Subbuteofest, one of the UK’s leading table football tournaments, he has helped put Haverhill on the international Subbuteo map, welcoming players from across Europe. He actively promotes the game’s mental health benefits, highlighting the camaraderie, friendships, and community spirit it inspires.
A family man and proud grandfather, Gerry is also an advocate for personal growth and resilience. His journey—whether in driving instruction, business leadership, or community sport—has been marked by commitment, professionalism, and the ability to inspire others.