The BBC has confirmed that the controller of BBC2, Mark Thompson, has held discussions with the Department for Education and the Teacher Training Agency about such a project.

The move is being seen as an attempt to improve the image of the teaching profession, which is currently in the throes of a recruitment crisis.

It is understood that Lord Puttnam, the film producer who won a Hollywood Oscar for Chariots of Fire, is involved in the project. He is also a member of the government's school standards task force.

Favourite teacher

The Teacher Training Agency's attempts to improve the profile of teaching have included cinema and television advertisements featuring Tony Blair, John Cleese, Joanna Lumley and David Attenborough.

Each simply gave the name of their favourite teacher, and the advert ended with the slogan "No-one forgets a good teacher".

The agency's chief executive, Anthea Millett, told a meeting of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers last summer that she was considering a national awards ceremony for good teachers.

A BBC spokesman said: "No decisions have been reached yet on the format of such an event.

"An official announcement will be made on June 18."