Hail to the chief: Ray Kearns - dubbed the "Grind King" by one trade unionist - is the president of the Institute of Education, the country's most successful grind school. Now past retirement age, he attracts admiration and derision in equal measure in education circles.

Kearns has no problem fending off his critics. "The vast majority of teachers give grinds. Ray Kearns is an easy target. It is the old Irish begrudgery thing. I am criticised because I am so successful".

He is famously shy of discussing his personal wealth, but, by most estimates, Kearns is worth a small fortune, with a business worth several million euro and extensive property assets. He lives in an opulent home in Darty, Dublin.

From Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon, he worked as a transport clerk with CIE. He worked night shifts so he could attend classes at UCD. He was a remarkably bright student, earning a series of Science Foundation scholarships to the US - before taking a post as senior maths teacher in Gonzaga.

Kearns attributes much of his entrepreneurial zeal to his time in the US. "It taught me that you get anything you want if you were prepared to work hard," he says.

In 1969, he opened the institute with 10 part-time students. He was pushing an open door. The new maths syllabus meant there was huge demand for extra help with the subject. His burgeoning reputation - and his link with Gonzaga - also meant that there was no shortage of middle-class students whose parents were prepared to pay for the extra help

Despite the wealth and the successful business career, Kearns still has the bearing and personality of a rural secondary teachers from the 1960's. Said one ex-colleague: "He is still obsessed with teachers and teaching. He worries a great deal that the best and the brightest will no longer be attracted to the profession."

Despite this, Kearns has few friends in ASTI, who dislike his prohibition on union membership.