Introduction

This chapter discusses the story of Sarah Jane Bannister's career and educational vision, it will be seen that both her aspirations for herself and for trainee and serving women teachers exposed certain educational, professional and moral tensions which turned upon critical aspects of social class and gender. In 1897, Sarah Bannister was on an influential government committee on the pupil-teacher system and teacher training. Marriage to Henry Bannister possibly gave Sarah an opening into the work of the London School Board (LSB). Sarah Bannister was appointed as headmistress of a centre for girls in a school room under the Lycett Memorial Chapel, Mile End Road, and Henry Bannister as a headmaster of a centre for boys based in the East End's famous university settlement, Toynbee Hall. Toynbee Hall became the home of the London Pupil Teachers Association (LPTA), established in 1886 with a debating society.