You say above:
We soon all got to learn who were the soft touch teachers and those whose wrath was to be avoided at all costs, well certainly for boys as once again, still in the same local education authority area, meant the same rules regarding the cane and slipper.
I take this to mean that your LEA banned the cane or slipper for girls altogether. I’m no expert, but I think this was quite unusual. I’ve just tried to clarify the situation with regard to this, but it certainly isn’t easy to do, and in any event, it would probably vary over the years.