Lecturer 'gobsmacked' to win award on The One Show

The winner, Lisa Charles, has been teaching for over 13 years

A Surrey educator found out she had received a prestigious UK teaching award live on BBC's The One Show on Friday.

Lisa Charles, hairdressing lecturer at Nescot College in Epsom, has been recognised as the Gold Winner of the Award for Further Education (FE) Lecturer of the Year in the 2025 Pearson National Teaching Awards.

She has been commended for her work helping children going through cancer, as well as dementia patients and homeless people.

"I was gobsmacked when the film crew burst into my lesson," Ms Charles said. "With so many incredible nominees nationwide, I feel incredibly honoured to have won this award."

Julie Kapsalis, principal and CEO at Nescot, said Ms Charles was "an incredible teacher and mentor".

"Each student who learns from Lisa aims to follow in her footsteps combining professionalism, skill and compassion," she added.

Having won silver in the same category earlier this year, Ms Charles has been recognised for her contribution to students and the wider community for over 13 years.

She has set up projects to teach students while helping others in the local community, including them in her work with charities and in local hospitals, as well as helping homeless people and geriatric ward patients.

Working with the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, she also established a pop-up hair and beauty salon to pamper children undergoing chemotherapy and their families.

During the programme, presenter Matt Allwright gathered past and present students, community members, and a Royal Marsden nurse who works in the children's cancer ward where Ms Charles volunteers to surprise her with the award, followed by messages from Jools Holland and Sir Stephen Fry.