Twelve stroke canings were not uncommon for serious breaches of discipline.
I can testify to 12 stroke canings being used occasionally in my private school – the one I was sent to at 14 when my father decided that the discipline at my state school (the head was limited to a 3 stroke caning) wasn’t severe enough to be effective. I received a 12 stroke caning from the head on one occasion but my father would operate a maintenance system of punishment (with both cane and slipper) at home, usually on a Saturday morning.