Although much less well known than some other nineteenth century female campaigners, such as Florence Nightingale or Emmeline Pankhurst, Dorothea Beale is nonetheless deserving of wide recognition for her pioneering, and at times radical, ideas.

SALLY WALLER read Modern History at Oxford University and has subsequently devoted her life to education, through teaching, examining and writing. She has produced many history textbooks for a range of publishers in the course of her career and, most recently, has been the editor and part-author of a popular Advanced Level History series for Oxford University Press. She has also contributed articles to educational journals and has pursued a number of independent research projects. Her recent retirement after many happy years as a History teacher at the Cheltenham Ladies' College has given her the opportunity to combine her historical and educational interests through this study of that College's pioneering Principal.