I'm a brit instructor, and I teach the wing down unless the type requires the other.
I can see where FTB is coming from and also agree with Chuck.
The problem we have under JAR is a very pathetic requirement of slow flight and stall spin awareness. Therefore students can be left under exposed to the perils or not of flying by the seat of there pants. It is up to the instructor now to decide if he wants to dwell on this area or not. Some do, and some don't. if it was more a legal requirement, then we all would.
I am not suggesting FTB doesn't train students thoroughly in this area. I am also aware of the increased skill required of turning low level, particularly with a wind making this sort of turn become a downwind turn and the illusions it can produce.
Our PPL and in particular "NPPL" has become so sold as a licence that can be bought in the hours and on the cheap with reduced hours, is really giving the customer a false claim. It is also making the instructors job harder having to convince the student (customer) that he will have to spend more money to attain the skill required not of the licence but of the aircraft/field he has learnt from.
For example: Under the NPPL I believe it is a minimum of 1 hour for solo consolidation in the circuit after Ex14. What a load of tosh. Most students need around 3 hours to gain the confidence and "command" aspects of circuit discipline. What planet was the person on who made this sylabus? Fine, give them more instruction and hours solo, but so much for the advertised "cheaper" NPPL. How does that make the "School" look to its customers having sold them the package in the first place trying to be competitive to its neighbours?
I would imagine if my field had a turn requirement like that, I would need a few more sessions flying the turns b4 sending solo, as Chuck or someone suggested.
That customer is going to then whinge to his mates who learnt at airfield "b" that he took longer. What do you do?
Unless the CAA make a more stringent requirement to fly the aircraft rather than "operate" it, we would have a far more competant and confident new pilot in the sky. The CAA do seem to be forgetting what a good set of hands and feet can do in the cockpit. Loose the B**LS**T and fly the aircraft should be their next goal!