Phyllis Wallbank

Phyllis Wallbank, MBE (née Gardner; 1 September 1918 – 9 April 2020) was a British educationalist who, in 1948, founded the first all-age Montessori school in Great Britain and the Gatehouse Learning Centre, which took its name from the gatehouse of the Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great in London.

William J. Codd, Professor of Education at Seattle University, wrote of Wallbank: "The one on whom the robe of Montessori should fall to carry on the living tradition.

After retirement, Wallbank and her husband moved out of London to Dorney near Eton, where they had a house on the Common.

Both were involved in different ways with Eton College, with her husband conducting services for BBC broadcasts and she coaching the weaker students and introducing them to her Slough Run.

Shortly before the death of her husband, Canon Timothy Russ[2] introduced Wallbank to the writings of the Canadian philosopher and theologian Fr Bernard Lonergan SJ CC.

She found in Lonergan a philosophy that was deeply consonant with Montessori's educational practice and convictions.

[3] Wallbank remained retired in Dorney, where she continued to be active, entertaining international scholars at her home and communicating with a wide variety of people after having embraced the internet.

The Gatehouse Learning Centre was "known for its distinguished graduates as well as its integration of exceptional students into the regular classroom.

Besides her innovations in the field of education, Phyllis Wallbank was also involved in creative charitable and social initiatives.

In 1985, she began the London Run, a new ministry dedicated to helping homeless and destitute people living by the Thames Embankment.

[4] Her London and Slough Runs continue to function, with people of all persuasions and faiths spontaneously gathering together on Monday evenings on a street corner in Slough, and offering food and drink with dignity to street people.

Review of Phyllis Wallbank and David Fleischacker, Worldwide Natural Education: Three Important Discussion Lectures by Phyllis Wallbank MBE and Dr David Fleischacker (set of 3 DVDs).

"Understanding the Four General Sensitive Phases of Human Development from Age 0–24: Maria Montessori, Phyllis Wallbank, and Bernard Lonergan."