The teachers also had this same responsibility of care and had the same authority to use corporal punishment but to my knowledge only one teacher exercised that latter prerogative.

Having to write lines or attend a detention was not part of the school’s disciplinary regime.

We had what was termed a ‘meritocratic’ points system operating in school.

This meant we earned merits for good work or good behaviour, and demerits for poor work or bad behaviour.

Each merit or demerit would be shown on a slip which would contain a pupil’s name, a score of between one and five, and brief reason for the award.