Caroline Nofer, from Gorefield Primary School, near Wisbech, has emerged as winner of the East of England 2008 BT Award for Teacher of the Year in a Primary School.

As part of her prize, Caroline, and eight other regional winners, reveived a "star treatment" makeover prize, which involved a day trip to London, styling by a team of hair, beauty and fashion experts, and a professional photo shoot.

Their four-page photo-feature is published in the October issue of women's magazine Prima.

editor Maire Fahey told winners of her "admiration and utmost respect" for teachers, headteachers and teaching assistants.

She said: "We feel privileged to be involved with the UK Teaching Awards for the first time, and to have this opportunity to say thank-you to some amazing winners for making a difference in our classrooms."

Caroline (27), who was nominated by a pupil, said:

"I took my teaching assistant, Mel Higgs, with me, so I was in good company.

"We went to London on the train and got picked up and taken to the photographer's studio, which was like a loft apartment sort of set-up – all painted white.

"They took a 'before' photo of me, and then I had my nails and make-up done.

"They styled and straightened my hair and then we got to choose our clothes.

"We then had to strut our stuff for the camera which took quite a few takes.

"My dress is by Betty Jackson from Debenhams and I got to take it home with me.

"We had lots of jokes together with the other winners, which was really nice because, when we lef,t we were saying: 'See you in October'.

"We showed the pictures to the children in my Year 3/4 class and they 'oohed' and 'aahed' and said it didn't look like me at all."

The regional winners now go forward to the UK final on October 19, which is due to be televised on BBC2.