If you are approaching 17 (in the UK) you may be looking to become a new driver as quickly as possible. However, there are of course a number of hoops you need to jump through before you are able to drive on the road by yourself, not the least of which is the dreaded driving test. You can't do too much before you turn 17, but there are a number of steps you can perform to try and get yourself on the road as soon as you can.
You will want to get your hands on your provisional license as soon as you can. Remember it takes about 3 weeks for your provisional license application to be processed by the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency, so don't leave it to the last minute. You can send in your application up to two months before your impending birthday, so getting your application in early will allow you to start lessons as soon as your turn 17.
Secondly, you may now be able to practice practical driving on the road with gusto until you are 17, but the theory test is now a compulsory part of the process. With the theory test, you can start revising at any age, so you should get a few books that cover all the questions that can come up in the theory test. It is just like revising for any other exam, but the theory test gets more difficult every few years, adding more difficult questions. You should be able to book a theory test very soon after your 17th birthday, and this will pave the way for an early practical test.
Remember also, that revising for your theory test will ultimately help your practical skills when it comes to hitting the road. Some view it as a nuisance, but it can set you up for life with good driving knowledge of what you should be doing correctly on the UK roads.
When it comes to the actual driving lessons, research has shown that the longer the lessons are, the faster the student will learn. It is generally better to have 2-hour lessons instead of 1-hour lessons spread out. For the confident, a 5 day intensive course may be a good option. These intensive courses can culminate in a driving test at the end, where you will arguably be at your peak, having driven nearly nonstop for nearly 5 days in a row.