Ms Panayis got her award from the show's host, Eamonn Holmes

Nina Panayis, from Godwin Junior School Forest Gate in east London, was shocked and said of her accomplishment: "I think it means an awful lot and it's a tremendous achievement for the school and the community."

People at the star-studded Teaching Awards 2003 ceremony at the London Palladium were shown a video of Tony Blair surprising Ms Panayis.

Before he went in he reminded the camera that she really did not know he was arriving, and joked: "So I hope her heart's in good condition."

Godwin school will now receive thousands of pounds of cash and equipment as a result of the award.

Nina Panayis has been teaching for 30 years

Ms Panayis has been at the school for 13 years and has been a teacher for more than 30.

She is also the numeracy co-ordinator for the London Borough of Newham and is carrying out a study of how boys do in the subject.

She recently went to Jamaica to work with schools on the Caribbean island.

Talking about her success, she told BBC London: "It comes down to the fact that I really enjoy working with a classroom full of children, and that I see myself as a learner as well as a teacher."