This report outlines and discusses the King's Fund Ward Sister Training Project being piloted at Guy's Hospital and Whipps Cross Hospital in London. This arose from debate in 1977 about how the Fund could respond to the climate of management awareness and professional concern about the role of the ward sister, and how it then set about designing a ward-based training scheme for potential sisters and charge nurses. Those involved in the scheme contribute their thoughts and evaluation of the project so far.