An excellent Headmistress Miss Nightingale had a presence. She was tall, dark haired and elegant often wearing Eastern style, colourful shawls. She believed in her pupils and trusted them and they in return felt safe and valued. She was a member of 'The Society of Friends' also known as Quakers and she practised their beliefs of 'respect for every person regardless of wealth, rank or status and in the essential goodness of everyone'. There were no formal punishments - miscreants were encouraged to reflect on their actions and search their consciences to acknowledge whether they had been stupid, hurtful towards others, unkind or had wronged someone.