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The end of the First World war marked a new era for the college. Miss Stansfeld gave up her part time teaching at Bedford High School, as the college was now established and needed her full-time attention. Professional work for women was now much more socially acceptable and student numbers began to rise steadily beyond the 89 students reached in 1919. 

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“There was above all devotion to Miss Stansfeld, who as one decade succeeded another, seemed to be immortal. If the college was her family, the old students formed her extended family.”  The 'Old Students' Association’ basically the extended family, became a powerful force for pioneering the corporate identity of the college. 74. “At Bedford, Miss Stansfeld 'was just our chief'; wrote one looking back. 'She was also a mother-figure-… but in the way of teaching the student family' 75.  

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In the 1920s and 30s Bedford Physical Training college was described with Dartford College, as the Oxford and Cambridge of physical education colleges. During the 1930s the college became a public limited company to cope with its expansion. The college eventually became part of Bedford College of Higher Education in 1976. 

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In addition to her pioneering college work, Miss Stansfeld played a leading role in founding the Ling Association, for the promotion of Swedish gymnastics, and later established their library and courses, and was their President from 1910 to 1920. She was also a founder of the Bedford Women's Suffrage Society and was President of the Association of Principals of Women's Physical Training Colleges. 

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Though many had a wholesome fear of Miss Stansfeld, the scholars had a keen respect for her despite her high standards being very difficult to keep up with. One girl remembers that “there's just something about her which could not be avoided, just a sweeping, compelling something which seemed to destroy or overcome resistance” 76.

 

Despite the strict regime, students left college possessed by a sense of moral value in their work that lasted a lifetime. Many students thought it great good luck to be at college with Miss Stansfeld and left determined to emulate her high standards. College life was not for the faint hearted and not all reached their goal of achieving the diploma and having the opportunity to teach. 

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The Bedford Physical Education Old Students Association was formed in 1909 and students first attended a reunion in 1906. The association still exists and carries on its aim to form a bond between all students trained at the college. Meetings began as holiday weeks at the college where all students had refresher courses, gave lectures and participated in various activities including a day on the river. In 1914 holiday week was abandoned halfway through when war with Germany was announced and old students did not meet again until 1918. 

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In the 'family phase' of college development, old student loyalty was encouraged on an informal basis by the principal. Spafford (Bedford, 1908) states, “Later, when I was an old student, I remember Miss Stansfeld's warm welcome to me to visit College often - a welcome she will have given to many old students - ‘come as often as you can, stay as long as you can and come without notice.’ (What warmer welcome from our college principal could one have!)'' 77.