A dedicated headteacher was invited to a reception at Number 10 Downing Street for his outstanding work.

Eamon Connolly, 58 of St Joseph’s College, was among 40 other high-achieving school leaders whose work was celebrated at Downing Street earlier this month.

Gordon Brown’s office asked MPs to pick out outstanding contributors to schools in their area and incumbent Croydon North MP Malcolm Wicks chose Mr Connolly.

Mr Connolly was also this week nominated as Teacher of the Year for Croydon Champions.

The father-of-two, who was appointed to his position in 1994, said: “I am very honoured. There are a lot of headteachers who are unsung heroes.

“What makes a great headteacher is someone the children trust and the people know well and regard with dignity and respect. Someone that can give advice to people in all walks of life.”

Mr Connolly met Gordon and Sarah Brown and Education Minister Ed Balls.

The Prime Minister congratulated Mr Connolly on his work, saying he was enamoured by the hard work of headteachers.

Mr Connolly jokingly dismissed his praise and said: “Well it can't be as hard as being Prime Minister.”

Mr Connolly has taught pupils who have become lawyers, solicitors and even a few budding football stars.

He said:“I am most proud of my achievements when I am outside school and 25 and 30-year-old past pupils see me and still call me sir.”

In his spare time Mr Connolly is an avid football fan and a Wimbledon AFC season ticker holder.

He said: “In such a high pressure job I am fortunate I can divorce home life from work and can switch off. I am very lucky to have a great wife and two children.”

Mr Wicks said: “We have a lot of very good headteachers in Croydon, I am told Eamon is the longest serving. I think he is a first class head.

“Whenever I go to the school I am very impressed. The pupils have a huge respect for him and he is a good disciplinarian. I wanted to recognise his excellence in the industry by inviting him to Number 10.”