Mrs Hodges wins Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Award 2025

Laura Hodges from Thetford Academy has won £3,500 for musical instruments and equipment from award sponsor Viking. A teacher our school has been honoured with the Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Award 2025, in partnership with ABRSM.

Mrs Hodges has won the Secondary School Music Teacher category. The prestigious awards were set up by Classic FM, the UK’s most popular classical music station, and ABRSM, the UK's leading music exam board and Classic FM's Partner in Music Education, to recognise and reward exceptional music teachers who have made a real difference to the musical lives of young people.

The announcement was made live on air on Classic FM Breakfast with Dan Walker today. Mrs Hodges' winning moment can be heard again on Global Player.

Mrs Hodges was selected by a panel of industry judges, including representatives from Classic FM, ABRSM, the Department of Education, music teachers and experts from across the sector.

The judges said: “Laura arrived at a school that was missing a music teacher, had no singing and had very little curricular or extra-curricular music. Laura has transformed the music provisions at the Academy, and there are now numerous choirs, bands and orchestral ensembles, with children taking up new instruments and music every day. Music is part of the school day, giving students confidence and skills they never thought they’d be able to have. The progress Laura has made at the school and for the students is remarkable.”

She will receive £3,500 from Viking to spend on musical instruments and equipment of her choice for Thetford Academy, thanks to the award sponsor, Viking, a global leader in experiential travel, which provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans and lakes around the world.

Other categories in the Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Awards include Primary School teacher, SEND music teacher, Best Music Learning Initiative and Lifetime Achievement.

Mrs Hodges said: I am absolutely delighted to have been nominated – let alone to have won the award. I love our school and our community here in Thetford and this award really is a recognition of the journey that we have been on together. I hope that this award shines a light on just what can be achieved and built when you have the support of students, families, staff and strong leadership. I would like to thank those that have supported our department and am delighted to accept this award on behalf of all of us.

Sally Ardis, Classic FM’s Senior Managing Editor, said: “We are thrilled to honour Laura with the Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Award 2025, in partnership with ABRSM. What she has achieved and continues to achieve at The Thetford Academy is truly inspiring and she fully deserves recognition for it. We know that she lives and breathes our passion at Classic FM to make classical music relevant and accessible to everyone, so we are delighted to celebrate her dedication, hard work and continued success.”

Lincoln Abbotts, Engagement Director, ABRSM said: “We’re delighted to be collaborating with Classic FM to recognise and celebrate all the amazing music teachers across the UK. At ABRSM we recognise the commitment, ambition and creativity of our music teaching community and the crucial role they play in guiding and supporting young people on their own musical journeys. We all know that taking part in, and making progress through music, adds so much richness to young people’s lives. Congratulations to Laura and all the winners, and our thanks to all music teachers for making a difference in the lives of those learning music every day.”

Wendy Atkin-Smith, Managing Director of Viking UK said: “Congratulations to Laura from all of us at Viking. We share Classic FM's passion for supporting emerging talent and making classical music accessible to everyone, so we are very proud to support the Music Teacher of the Year Awards which help recognise and reward exceptional music teachers. We hope our donation towards musical instruments and equipment for their school will help them continue to make a real difference to the musical lives of young people for many years to come.”