AN ULVERSTON teacher has hit the right note in a national competition by scooping £10,000 worth of musical equipment for the school.

Richard Butler, head of PE and creative arts at Ulverston Victoria High School, was nominated for the Classic FM Secondary School Music Teacher of the Year Award by sixth form student Helen Bartosinski.

After reaching the final five in the competition, Mr Butler, who has set up an 85-strong wind band and a 37-strong swing band at UVHS, was invited to the headquarters of Classic FM in London.

While Mr Butler was in the studio, it was announced live on air that he had been voted the overall winner.

He was later presented with a £10,000 voucher from Yamaha for musical instruments and two computers for the 1,400-pupil school on Springfield Road.

“I was really, really surprised, but it is rather nice to have the title,” said Mr Butler.

“It is also a big plus for the school. I would like to thank everybody for voting for me.” Mr Butler said the vouchers would be used to buy some new state-of-the-art keyboards for GCSE pupils at the school.

He also said UVHS was planning to send its sixth form students to teach music in primary schools in Ulverston and would use the money to buy flutes and clarinets.

The school also netted more than £1,000 for its instrument fund last Saturday from a sportsmen’s dinner.