Prime minister Theresa May has told teachers they have a key role in tackling the “burning injustices” facing society today.

Mrs May made her comments at a Downing Street reception on Monday evening to which around 100 teachers were invited in celebration of their hard work and commitment.

The select invitees were told that they had a key role to play in raising standards for pupils and ensuring children have the “best possible start in life”.

Few can claim, as teachers can, to have shaped and influenced so many lives, said Mrs May, who served as shadow education secretary earlier in her career.

Highlighting the power of education and “good teachers”, she threw down the gauntlet to teachers up and down the country to tackle the nation’s injustices. 

“When I stood on the steps outside this house almost two years ago, I talked about my desire to tackle the burning injustices facing our country today,” Mrs May told the assembled audience.

“And education is the key to doing so, and that means teachers like you are the key to making Britain the great meritocracy it can and should be. The generations of famous figures who have graced this room throughout history owe their successes to the teachers who inspired and educated them. Teachers just like you.

“So I want to thank you, and thank all teachers, for everything you have already done to nurture the next generation. And let me say, once again, how much I look forward to working with you so that every child in every corner of this country has the best possible start in life.”

Those listening included Andria Zafirakou, this year’s first ever British winner of the Global Teacher Prize, and staff from Wimbledon Park school, where Mrs May was once a school governor.

May said the event was to celebrate not just the teachers present but “all of your colleagues up and down the country who do such vital work day in, day out”.

The event was co-hosted with education secretary Damian Hinds, who paid tribute to “incredible” teachers across the country: “There are no great schools without great teachers and the reception today is a small recognition of the incredible dedication and hard work we see day in, day out, across the teaching profession.

“We now have the most remarkably talented generation of teachers, and it was a pleasure to recognise the commitment and hard work of just some of the 457,000 teachers we have working in classrooms across the country to raise standards for pupils.”