The Prime Minister Tony Blair has been among the famous names supporting the first year of an award scheme for England's teachers.

In an Oscars-style, televised ceremony, awards worth £20,000 were made for the best teachers in the country. The award for the best teacher in a primary school, was presented to Norma Machell by the prime minister in an unannounced visit to her primary school in York.

Norma Machell received her award in a surprise visit from the prime minister

The 1999 Teaching Awards, with prizes in 14 categories, saw the lifetime's achievement award being presented to Maureen Davies, a Liverpool primary teacher praised by her head as "the best teacher he had ever met".

Parents and pupils at St Sebastian's Roman Catholic Junior and Middle School praised Mrs Davies for her 35 years of achievement in the classroom.

The awards - known as Platos - have been created as an attempt to boost the morale of teachers and to improve its status as a profession, with an emphasis on gaining positive publicity for the work of classroom teachers.

In an hour-long awards ceremony at Alexandra Palace, London, presenters Stephen Fry and Gaby Roslin, and celebrity guests, including actress Helen Mirren and athlete Linford Christie, presented awards to:

Lifetime Achievement Award: Maureen Davies: St Sebastian's RC JMI and Nursery School, Liverpool.

Teacher of the Year in a Primary School: Norma Machell, Scarcroft Primary School, York.

Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School: Romilda Scannelli, Uplands Community College, Wadhurst.

The Dorling Kindersley Award for Best New Teacher in a Primary School: Flo Witcombe, Inverteign Junior School, Teignmouth.

The Dorling Kindersley Award for Best New Teacher in a Secondary School: David Waugh, The Beauchamp College, Leicester.

The Guardian Award for the Most Creative use of ICT in a Primary School: Diana Sperry, Moat Farm Junior School, Oldbury.

The Guardian Award for the Most Creative use of ICT in a Secondary School: Keith Parry, Hyde Technology School, Cheshire.

The Camelot Award for Working with Parents and the Community in a Secondary School: Bob Jennings, St George Community School, Bristol.

The Camelot Award for Working with Parents and the Community in a Primary School: Barbara Beels, Wingate Nursery School, Wingate, County Durham.

Contribution to School Leadership Award in Secondary School: Barbara Berryman, Marshfields School, Peterborough

Contribution to School Leadership Award in Primary School: Jean Heslop, Cliffe Hill Junior and Infants School, Halifax.

Teacher of the Year in a Special School: Mary Pittman, Downham School, Plymouth.

The Railtrack Award for Excellence in Special Needs Teaching in a Secondary School: Wendy Crockett, Alderman Blaxill School.

The Railtrack Award for Excellence in Special Needs Teaching in a Primary School: Elizabeth Seddon, Elmtree First School.

One of the new trophies, featuring the Greek philosopher Plato

The awards are part of a wider profile-raising campaign that has seen television and cinema advertising encouraging more people to consider it as a career.

The Platos - organised by film maker and government education adviser Lord Puttnam - will earn £20,000 for the schools of the winning teachers.

Judges included representatives of teachers' unions, business and the media.

They considered such factors as how much teachers encourage enthusiasm for their subject; how they imaginatively engage their pupils; how they encourage less able pupils and how they contribute to the ethos of the school.