RNV CONSULTING

Robert (Bob) Vertes came to the UK aged 8 as a refugee from Hungary in 1957 with very little English. Despite this he got into Hackney Downs (Grocers’) Grammar School at 11. He gained a degree in Mathematics at the University of Essex and then a PGCE at the University of Sussex during which he joined ATM (Association of Teachers of Mathematics. He taught in state schools in Bow and Southgate and then was Head of Department for 8 years in an 1100 pupil mixed comprehensive in Northwood. He became an Open University tutor, some 50 years ago, teaching mathematics and mathematics education courses and as a PGCE tutor, was filmed in the classroom and wrote a chapter in a course text. For 4 years he worked as a Curriculum Support Teacher in Hillingdon, with responsibilities including bringing in the new National Curriculum and the GCSE. He joined what is now St Mary’s University and was then PGCE Mathematics course leader for 24 years, enlarging the cohort to a target of 47 students when he retired, ending with an Ofsted grade 1. He also taught Primary students. He was also the PGCE Secondary Admissions Tutor and active at Graduate and career changer recruitment events, with work for the Teacher Training Agency, later TDA, success in which earned an invitation to a Royal Garden Party. More recently he has interviewed for the Mathematics Teacher Training Scholarships, provided some support for Scholars, and vetted UCAS ITT applications for some school consortia. He currently contributes to a number of ITE courses, including as Mathematics tutor for School Direct at LSJS and as Link Tutor and SKE tutor at SMU. He has been external examiner for 4 universities’ teacher training courses, most recently at Christ Church Canterbury University.

 

ATM, on whose General Council he worked for 5 years, has published 2 co-authored books on “People Maths”, and as sole author “Maths Games and Puzzles“ in 2019, and these may lead to more publications. He has attended many national  international conferences on Maths Education and Teacher Education, in 2013 being the British representative on a pan-European conference in Hungary on Supporting Starting-out Teachers. He was a founder member of AMET (Association of Mathematics Education Teachers). Bob won two internal Horace Walpole prizes at St Mary’s, individually for Teaching, and as a team member for Equality and Diversity. The former led to short-listing for a National Teaching Fellowship and an award of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He has taught for over 15 years on many Subject Knowledge Enhancement courses, has written widely and run many sessions on Mathematics Education issues, and has much INSET experience and on Gifted and Talented pupil activities, including Royal Institution Mathematics Master Classes and Year 7 Maths challenges in a number of London boroughs. He has been a parent governor at a primary and a secondary school.

 

Bob hopes to reach his 50^th wedding anniversary in 2023, has 2 children and 5 grandchildren. He was an OU level 1 student of French (gaining a distinction) and has been a Manchester United fan since arriving in England. Bob has significant volunteer experience with the Refugee Council, Migrants’ Resource Centre, and Resource. He supports many charities including Jewish Care and Chai Cancer Care. He was a founder member of the Jewish Teachers' Association. He represents his synagogue on the Board of Deputies of British Jews and actively serves on the Community, Education and Interfaith Division. To relax he reads detective fiction and enjoys mathematical, logical and word puzzles, and is researching and recording his family history. When not working he swims, plays 9-hole golf, walks, and enjoys theatre, travelling, and spending time with the family.