I can understand why today it seems incredible that people at school were ever punished by methods which today are seen as potentially (or entirely) illegal, but in the UK, unfortunately, it was the case that they were, and at that date, it was entirely legal.

My school was not unique and given it was in the South East, was probably ‘capable of being described as being in the forefront of educational good practice (as usual as imported from the USA)particularly as it was one of the first designated full comprehensives in London (never mind anywhere else).

I do know from my husband and other friends and relations from the North of England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland that corporal punishment in the sixties and seventies was very generally applied for both sexes, and thinking carefully, that hardly any of my immediate relations or acquaintances avoided receiving or personally witnessing some formal corporal punishment during their time at school.