A_L:

Lower school in my grammar school days (1958 – 66) referred to the 1st and 2nd years. fresh from junior school. The change of schools was quite a shock. My junior school did use occasional CP. Boys had it in class, bending over the teacher’s desk. it varied teacher to teacher, a few slaps to the ruler, etc. Back then plenty of us were spanked at home too. so a few whacks on the seat of our trousers in school was no big deal. The girls saw us getting it but it was rare for a girl to get it.  I don’t remember any girls getting  it in class, they were sent to the senior mistress and that was rare.
The move to  a grammar school meant homework, detentions and a  full uniform including a school cap. At junior school we tended to be the same classroom a lot whereas in grammar school we moved to different classroom for different lessons. Most lower school teachers kept a plimsoll or ruler and some used it a lot.  A word with another boy  during a lesson could mean being called to the front if spotted. then it was usually two whacks each. Some teachers really whacked hard whilst from some it was just a few firm taps.  variety of different classrooms and teachers you could find yourself bending over two or three times in one day. School canings in most lower schools where I grew up were rare except for really serious things.

Hello six of the best,

You wrote above:

Lower school in my grammar school days (1958 – 66) referred to the 1st and 2nd years. fresh from junior school. ……………  Most lower school teachers kept a plimsoll or ruler and some used it a lot.

Exactly so!   I’m glad to have confirmation.  That’s what ‘Lower School’ used to mean and that’s why I guessed at that option in #80 when discussing Poundswick High School where the unfortunate Alison was slippered in front of  the Lower School in the 1970s.  I note though that nowadays some schools with sixth forms are referring to lower school as years 7 to 11, ie pupils prior to sixth form entry.

Poor Alison!  Formed from the combination of a grammar school and a secondary modern school a few years earlier, Poundswick High School appears to have been both mixed and fairly large, maybe three or four form entry.  If indeed, as data appears to suggest, the slippering was on the bottom, bad enough for a girl being slippered in front of the boys in her own class.  Being slippered in front of the boys from perhaps 8 or more classes, and staff besides, must have been quite an ordeal, which is doubtless why Alison suggests that it was no fun at the time!

At my secondary school we didn’t have a defined lower school.  However in class SCP was pretty much restricted to the second and third forms.  There was no first form, that was effectively the last year of the associated preparatory school.  Having had to wait an extra year in junior school to take the 11+ exam due to my birthday I actually entered secondary  school in the third form and proceeded via the upper fourth and lower and upper fifth forms to the sixth form.  My third form master was the redoubtable Mr H, built like the legendary Victorian brick domestic outbuilding and wielder of a size 12 leather soled sandal.

This implement was guaranteed to bring tears to the eyes of even tough 12 year old boys.  Except one, who’d been caned on the bare at his preparatory school (not the associated preparatory school) and who said that compared to that the sandal was nothing to worry about).  Fortunately the only time I found myself bent over awaiting the sandal Mr H changed his mind at the last minute.  I never did find out why with a high degree of certainty.  After the third form, apart from the gym masters (sadists to a man), the risk of SCP was pretty much confined to the cane from the prefects, unless you went in for expulsion level infractions, in which case it was possible but unlikely to encounter the headmaster’s cane.

I did spend much of my secondary school career apprehensive about being caned by the prefects, who managed most of the non-academic discipline of the school, until a combination of entry to the sixth form and an early promotion to ‘privileged sixth former’, a sort of sub-prefect, rendered me absolutely safe.  I only made one appearance before the prefects’ court, quite early in my time there.

I’d had the plimsoll bent over in front of the class at junior school and it hadn’t hurt much, but looking at the full size school cane on the table  of the prefects’ court it was obvious that vigorously applied across the tightly stretched seat of my short trousers by a third year sixth form 1st XV rugby forward things might be very, very different!  Luckily I only got lines, and that was the last time I made the long trudge as an offender up the several stairways to the prefects’ room in the tower atop the school.

A_L, I believe that you are right in suggesting that it lower school, 11 – 13 year old youngsters were the main replicants of SCP. That said many junior school boys and some girls felt the ruler or slipper and some even felt the cane. My junior school sometimes caned the really badly behaved boys, generally one or two strokes across hands. These boys were about 10 or 11. My class teacher there once gave me two whacks with the black board T square. It stung but wasn’t exactly life threatening! It has to be remembered that back in the 1950s many parents still used spanking at home, another world!
However it was in the first few years of senior school, lower school, that the cane or slipper was used firmly. I felt the plimsoll and ruler in the 1st year there. A silly prank when I was just 13, saw me visiting the headmaster with 2 other boys. I speak mainly of boys getting SCP as my senior school was boys only. By the end of the 3rd form classroom punishments were virtually unknown. However for more serious ‘offences’ the cane was still in use for 3rd to 5th years and occasionally on lower 6th formers. I was around 16 when I found out how painful a real six of the best was.
I know there are those that believe that schools should still be using SCP but I’m certainly not one of them. Times and attitudes have changed so much and the majority of youngsters are far more mature at a younger age now.

Some more secondary schools from the Greater Manchester area:

Sacred Heart (Secondary) changed name in 1977 to Cathedral High School – Salford

Patricia (A) – b1950 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1965 to 1966
Sandra – b1951 – Cane across hands by female teacher – 1965 to 1967
Moira -b1952 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1965 to 1967
Lynn (A) – b1952 – Cane across hand by female teacher – 1965 to 1967
Susan (A) – b1954 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1965 to 1969
Lynn (B) – b1954 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1965 to 1969
Julie (A) – b1954 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1965 to 1969
Aileen – b1955 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female & male teachers – 1966 to 1969
Maggie (A) – b1955 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1966 to 1969
Theresa –  b1956 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1967 to 1972
Linda – b1956 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1967 to 1971
Jean – b1956 – – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1967 to 1971
Carole – b1957 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1968 to 1973
Anita (A) – b1957 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1971 to 1972
Angela (A) – b1957 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher (Class caning) – 1968 to 1972
Margaret (A) – b1957 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1968 to 1972
Angela (B) – b1957 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1968 to 197
Ildiko – b1957 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1968 to 1972
Bernie – b1958 – Cane across legs by female teacher – 1969 to 1974
Julie (B) b1958 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1969 to 1974
Julie (C) b1959 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1970 to 1975
Susan (B) – b1959 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1970 to 1975
Mary – b1959 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1970 to 1975
Carol (A) – b1959 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1970 to 1975
Julie (D) b1959 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1970 to 1975
Annemarie – b1959 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1970 to 1975
Anita (B) – b1960 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1971 to 1976
Karen (A) – b1960 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher (Class caning) – 1971 to 1976
Jacqui – b1961 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1972 to 1976
Deb – b1961 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1972 to 1977
Caroline – b1961 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1972 to 1977
Annette – b1962 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1973 to 1978
Carol (B) – b1963 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1974 to 1979
Melanie – b1963 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1974 to 1979
Moira (B) – b1963 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – (1974 to 1978
Susan (C) – b1963 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1974 to 1979
Elaine – b1963 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1974 to 1979
Donna – b1964 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1975 to 1980
Anne-Marie – b1964 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1975 to 1980
Eva – b1964 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1975 to 1980
Colette – b1965 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1976 to 1981
Julie (E) – b1965 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1976 to 1981
Maureen – b1965 – – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1976 to 1981
Margaret (B) –  b1965 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1976 to 1981
Jennifer – b1965 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1976 to 1981
Shirley – b1965 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1976 to 1981
Pat – b1966 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1977 to 1982
Yvonne – b1966 – Cane across hands by unnamed teacher – 1977 to 1982
Virginia – b1966 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1977 to 1982
Anna-Marie – b1967 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher (Class caning) – 1978 to  1983
Carolyn – b1967 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1978 to 1983
Debbie – b1968 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1979 to 1984
Marie – b1968 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher (on stage) – 1979 to 1984
Maggie (B) – b1968 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1969 to 1984
Juliette – b1968 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1979 to 1984
Patricia (B) – b1968 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1979 to 1984
Lorraine – b1969 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1980 to 1985
Karen (B) – b1969 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher (Class caning)  – 1980 to 1985
Sheila – b1970 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1981 to 1984
Gail – b1970 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female & male teachers – 1981 to 1986
Joanne – b1970 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1981 to 1986
Louise – b1971 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1983 to 1986
Alison – b1971 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher (Group caning) – 1983
Jane – b1971 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher (Group caning)- 1983
Carol (B) – b1971 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher  (Group caning) – 1983

Saddleworth (Secondary) – Oldham

Christine – b1947 – Cane across hand by female teacher – 1959 or 1960

Seedfield (Secondary) – Bury

Doreen – b1949 – Cane across hand by male teacher – 1961 to 1964
Susan (A) – b1950 – Slipper across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1961 to 1965
Carol (A) – b1953 – Slipper across hand by female teacher – 1964 to 1968
Susan (B) b1954 – Slipper across bottom by female teacher – 1966
Susan (C) – b1954 – Slipper across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1965 to 1969
Isabel – b1956 – Slipper across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1967 to 1971
Pamela – b1957 – Slipper across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1968 to 1972
Karen (A) – b1958 – Slipper across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1969 to 1974
Karen (B) – b1958  – Slipper across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1969 to 1974
Carol (B) – b1958 – – Slipper across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1969 to 1974
Lorraine (A) – b1958 – Cane across hand by unnamed teacher – 1970 to 1974
Patricia – b1959 – Slipper across legs by male teacher – 1970 to 1975
Christa – b1959 – Slipper across legs by male teacher – 1970 to 1975
Lesley – b1959  – Slipper across unspecified anatomy by female teacher & hand across legs by male teacher – 1970 to 1975
Amanda – b1960 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1971 to 1976
Wendy (A) – b1960 – Cane across legs by male teacher – 1971 to 1976
Jeanette – b1960 – Cane across hand by unnamed teacher – 1971 to 1976
Sharon – b1961 – Cane across legs by female teacher – 1972 to 1977
Rhuksana – b1961 – Slipper across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1972 to 1977
Ann – b1961 – Slipper across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1972 to 1977
Tracy – b1961 – Slipper across bottom by male teacher – 1972 to 1977
Lorraine (B) – b1961 – Cane & slipper across bottom & hands by male teacher – 1972 to 1977
Denise – b1963 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1974 to 1979
Jo – b1963 – – Slipper across bottom by male teacher – 1974 to 1979
Melonie – b1963 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1974 to 1979
Beverley – b1963 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1974 to 1979
Wendy (B) – b1963 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female & male teachers- 1974 to 1979
Fiona – b1965 – Cane across legs by female teacher – 1976 to 1981
Kate – b1965 – Cane across legs by female teacher – 1976 to 1981
Lynda – b1965 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1976 to 1981
Michelle – b1965 – Cane & slipper across legs by unnamed teachers – 1976 to 1981
Alison – b1965 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1976 to 1981
Janet – b1966 – Slipper across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1977 to 1982
Angela – b1966 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1977 to 1982
Mandy – b1967 – Slipper across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1978 to 1983
Karen b1967 – Hand across legs by female teacher – 1978 to 1983
Deborah – b1967 – Hand across legs by female teacher – 1978 to 1983
Anita – b1970 – Slipper across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1981 to 1986

Spurley Hey (Secondary) – Gorton

Joan – b1937 – Strap across hand by unnamed teacher – 1948 to 1952
Ellie – b1945 – Strap across hand by unnamed teacher – 1956 to 1960
Anne – b1949 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1960 to 1964
Jeannette – b1949 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1960 to 1964
Irene (A) – b1949 – Strap across hand by male teacher – 1960 to 1964
Iris – b1950 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1961 to 1965
Doreen – b1951 – Cane & Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1962 to 1967
Irene (B) – b1951 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1962 to 1966
Linda (A) – b1954 – Strap across hands by unnamed teacher – 1965 to 1969
Al – b1955 – Strap across hands by unnamed teacher – 1966 to 1970
Gail – b1956 – Strap across hands by unnamed teacher – 1967 to 1971
Jeanne – b1956 – Strap across hands by unnamed teacher – 1967 to 1971
Martine – b1958 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1969 to 1974
Leah – b1958 – Strap across hands by unnamed teacher – 1969 to 1974
Lynn – b1958 – Strap across hands by unnamed teacher – 1969 to 1974
Carmen – b1958 – Strap across hands by unnamed teacher – 1969 to 1974
Dianne – b1958 – Strap across hands by unnamed teacher – 1969 to 1974
Julia – b1960 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1971 to 1976
Debbie (A) -b1960 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teachers – 1971 to 1976
Deborah (A) – b1969 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1971 to 1976
Julie (A) – b1960 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1971 to 1976
Tracey – b1962 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1973 to 1978
Babsy – b1962  – Strap across hands by male teacher – 1973 to 1978
Nicky – b1963 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1974 to 1977
Deborah (B) – b1963 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1974 to 1979
Christine – b1963 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1974 to 1979
Debbie (B) – b1964 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1975 to 1980
Jackie – b1964 – – Strap across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1975 to 1989
Linda (B) – b1964 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1975 to 1980
Caroline – b1964 – Strap across hands by unnamed teacher – 1975 to 1980
Josie – b1964 – Strap across hands by male teacher – 1975 to 1980
Julie (B) b1964 – Strap across hands by unnamed teacher – 1975 to 1980
Debbie (C) – b1964 – Strap across hands by unnamed teacher – 1975 to 1980
Sandra (A) – b1965 – Strap across hand by female & male teachers – 1976 to 1980
Maria – b1965 – – Strap across hand by male teacher – 1976 to 1981
Mandy – b1965 – Strap across hands by female teacher – 1976 to 1981
Tina – b1965 – Strap across hands by female teacher – 1976 to 1981
Julie (C) – b1965 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1976 to 1981
Helen – b1965 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1976 to 1981
Alison – b1966 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1977 to 1982
Sandra (B) – b1966 – Strap across hand by female teacher – 1977 to 1982
Gwendoline – b1966 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1977 to 1982
Michele – b1966 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1977 to 1982
Jane – b1966 – Strap across hands by unnamed teacher – 1977 to 1982
Lucy – b1967 – Strap across hands by unnamed teacher – 1978 to 1983
Donna – b1968 – Strap across hand by female teacher – 1979 to 1984
Wendy – b1968 – Strap across hands by unnamed teacher – 1979 to 1984
Adrienne – b1969 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1980 to 1985
Debbie (D) – b1970 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1981 to 1986

St Anne’s (Secondary) – Stockport

Susan – b1955 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1966 to 1970
Yvonne – b1956 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1967 to 1971
Theresa – b1960 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1975
Maria – b1964 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1975 to 1980
Yvonne – b1968 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1979 to 1984
Siobhan -b1971 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1982 to 1987

St Anselm’s (Secondary) – Oldham

Kathleen – b1947 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1958 to 1962
Rosemary – b1947 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – (1958 to 1962
Stella – b1947 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1958 to 1962
Margaret (A) – b1947 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1958 to 1962
Margaret (B) – b1947 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1958 to 1962
Jean (A) – b1948 – Strap across hand by female teacher – 1959 to 1963
Mary – b1948 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teachers – 1959 to 1963
Jean (B) – b1948 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1959 to 1963
Grace – b1949 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1961 to 1964
Maxine – b1949 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1960 to 1964
Maria (A) – b1950 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1961 to 1965
Diana – b1950 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1963 to 1966
Ann – b1950 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teachers – 1961 to 1965
Beverley – b1953 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1964 to 1969
Susan -b1955 – Strap across bottom and hand anatomy by male teachers – 1966 to 1970
Margaret (C) – b1955 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1966 to 1970
Clare -b1956 – Cane across legs by a nun – 1967 to 1971
Joanie – b1956 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1967 to 1971
Marie – b1956 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1967 to 1971
Kath – b1956 – Strap across hands by female teacher – 1967 to 1972
Christine (A) – b1957 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1968 to 1975
Christine (B) b1957 – Strap across hands by unnamed teacher – 1968 to 1972
Nora – b1957 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1968 to 1972
Valerie – b1957 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teachers – 1968 to 1972
Julie (A) – b1958 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1971 to 1975
Maria (B) – b1958 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1969 to 1974
Sheena – b1959 – Strap across hand by female teacher – 1970 to 1975
Sherry – b1959 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1970 to 1975
Zena – b1959 – Cane across bottom by male teacher – 1971 to 1976
Angie – b1960 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1971 to 1976
Donna (A) – b1960 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1971 to 1976
Julie (B) – b1960 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1971 to 1975
Sheila – b1960 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by her friend (at male teacher’s request) – 1971 to 1976
Jules – b1961 – Strap across hands by female teacher – 1972 to 1977
Cath (A) – b1961 – Strap across hands by female teacher – 1972 to 1977
Jo – b1962 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teachers – 1973 to 1978
Christine (C) – b1962 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1973 to 1980
Angela – b1962 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1973 to 1979
Joanne – b1962 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1973 to 1978
Martina – b1962 – Slipper across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1973 to 1978
Gillian – b1962 – Strap across hand by male teacher – 1973 to 1978
Lynda – b1963 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1974 to 1979
Donna (B) – b1963 – Strap across hand by female teacher – 1974 to 1979
Bernadette – b1963 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by friend (at male teacher’s request) – 1974 to 1979
Lucia – b1964 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teachers – 1975 to 1979
Mags – b1964 – Slipper across bottom by male teacher – 1975 to 1980
Janet – b1964 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1975 to 1980
Jay – b1964 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1975 to 1980
Sheila – b1964 – – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1975 to 1980
Karol – b1964 – Strap across hand by female teacher – 1975 to 1980
Caroline – b1964 – Strap across hand by female teacher – 1975 to 1980
Cath (B) – b1964 – Strap across hand by female teacher – 1975 to 1980
Tina – b1965 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1976 to 1981
Lorna – b1966 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teachers – 1977 to 1982
Lisa – b1966 – Strap across hand by female teacher – 1977 to 1982
Francine – b1966 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1977 to 1982
Gloria – b1966 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1977 to 1982
Dawn – b1967 – Strap across hands by female teacher – 1978 to 1983
Cath (C) – b1967 – Cane across unspecified by male teacher – 1978 to 1983
Justine – b1967 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1978 to 1983
Eileen – b1967 – Strap across hands by female teachers – 1978 to 1983
Patricia – b1967 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1978 to 1983
Karen – b1967 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1978 to 1983
Paula – b1968 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1979 to 1984

St Damian’s (Secondary) – Ashton Under Lyne

Catharine – b1952 – Strap across hand by female teacher – 1966 to 1967
Mary – b1953 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1964 to 1969
Jeanette – b1955 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1966 to 1971
Diane – b1957 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1968 to 1972
Julie (A) – b1958 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1969 to 1974
Kath – b1959 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female & male teachers – 1970 to 1975
Toni – b1959 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1970 to 1975
Bernadette (A) – b1959 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1970 to 1975
Kathleen – b1959 – Hand across legs by female teacher – 1970 to 1975
Ann – b1960 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1971 to 1976
Sharon (A) – b1962 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1973 to 1978
Maria – b1962 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1973
Christine – b1964 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1975 to 1980
Sheila – b1965 – Strap across arm by female teacher – 1976 to 1981
Julie (B) – b1966 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1977 to 1982
Bernadette (B) – b1966 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1977 to 1982
Dawn – b1966 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1977 to 1982
Lorraine – b1966 – Strap across hand by female teacher – 1977 to 1982
Joanne – b1966 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1977 to 1982
Teresa – b1968 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1979 to 1984
Julie (C) – b1969 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1980 to 1985
Sharon (B) – b1970 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1981 to 1986
Sharon (C) – b1970 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1981 to 1986
Sarah – b1970 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1981 to 1986
Jayne – b1970 – Strap across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1981 to 1986

St George’s (Secondary) – Stockport

Liz – b1938 – Cane across hand by unnamed teacher – 1949 to 1953
Pauline – b1946 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1957 to 1961
Jeanette -b1947 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1958 to 1962
Sandra -b1949 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher (Class caning by a male student teacher) – 1960 – 1961
Evelyn – b1949 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1960 to 1964
Susan – b1949 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher (along with 5 others) – 1960 to 1964
Maureen – b1949 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1960 to 1964
Christine – b1951 – Hand across legs by female teacher – 1962 to 1966
Janet (A) – b1952 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1963 to 1967
Lorna – b1952 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teachers – 1963 to 1967
Lynne – b1953 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1963 to 1968
Carol – b1954 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1965 to 1969
Evonne – b1954 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher (Class caning) – 1965 to 1969
Janet (B) – b1956 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1967 to 1969

St James’s (Secondary) – Bolton

Mavis – b1946 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by unnamed teacher – 1958 to 1961
Geraldine – b1950 – Cane across hand by female teacher – 1961 to 1965
Jenny – b1951 – Cane across hands by female teacher – 1962 to 1966
Lynne – b1952 – Cane across hands by female teacher – 1963 to 1967
Pauline – b1952 – Cane across hands by unnamed teacher – 1963 to 1967
Olwyn – b1953 – Cane across hands by female teacher – 1964 to 1968
Gillian – b1955  – Cane across unspecified anatomy & hand across legs by female teachers – 1966 to 1970
Anne – b1957 – Cane across hand by male teacher – 1968 to 1973
Angy – b1960 – Cane across hands by unnamed teacher – 1971 to 1976
Angela – b1961 – Cane across hands by female teacher – 1972 to 1977
Diane (A) – b1962 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1973 to 1978
Diane (B) –  b1962 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1973 to 1978
Barbara – b1962 – Cane across hands by unnamed teacher – 1973 to 1978
Dorothy – b1963 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1974 to 1079
Margaret – b1963 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1974 to 1979
Diane (C) – b1964 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher – 1975 to 1980
Sharon – b1964 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1975 to 1980
Pat – b1964 – Cane across hand by unnamed teacher – 1975 to 1980
Jane – b1965 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1976 to 1981
Adele – b1965 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by female teacher – 1976
Vivien – b1967 – Cane across bottom by female teacher – 1978 to 1983
Shirley – b1967 – Cane across hand by female teacher – 1980

As always, I’ll provide further details of any case upon request.

Fantastic research on the punishment records – thank you.
One – does stand out at St James’ Bolton. Vivien was caned across her bottom. Is there any reason? Mybe some of the “unspecified anatomy” punishments were also across the bottom and Vivien was not an exceptional case.

Rickie444:
I too appreciate I, Researcher’s entries here. Can I offer a few thoughts on his entries here.

St James’s (Secondary) – Bolton, if St. James were a mixed school might “Vivien” be a misspelling? Generally it is ‘Vivienne’ for girls and ‘Vivian’ for boys. I knew a lad who was named Beverley Vivian; maybe his parents wanted a girl!
If the entries from one school just say unspecified anatomy it may mean all punishments in that particular school were given the same way e.g. all across hands, boys or girls.
Although the name of the school is given we are not always told if the school is girls only or if it is mixed.
CP in mixed schools varied school to school, some mixed schools only used CP on the boys. In mixed schools where both boys and girls received CP it may have gave been on boys backsides whereas the girls may have had it across their hands.
I’m fairly sure that very few girls ever received CP from male teachers especially across their bottoms. I knew of a mixed grammar school close to where I grew up caned both boys and girls only across their hands, equality!
All that said I’m sure that some girls were spanked by their fathers at home.

Keep up the good work I, Researcher!

Hello Rickie4444 and six of the best,

St James is a mixed C of E secondary school in Bolton.  As far as I can tell it started out as a secondary modern, before going comprehensive in the early 1970s.  Vivien is certainly female.  Her exact quotes mentioning her experience of SCP are:

‘had cane off miss Thornley for being late 3 times in a week I got 3 of the best on my ass!’

and

‘getting the cane off miss thornley for being late 3 times in a week it bloody hurt too she made me cry the bitch!!’

She also states that she was one of a group of girls that were lined up and caned on their hands.

When I coin the term ‘unspecified anatomy’ it means that the recipient has not stated whereabouts on their anatomy they were punished.  It is true that some schools did have standardized punishments.  However, some schools certainly didn’t.  Even some individual teachers mixed things up.  Consequently, I try not to jump to conclusions.

Regarding ‘Vivien’s’ caning on her bottom.  My gut-feeling is that this was not the Modus Operandi. Though of course I could be mistaken.

Hi again I, Researcher,

None of  my above comments were in any way meant as criticism. Many LEAs did offer some guidelines as to SCP but many schools had no firm guidelines to follow. Generally it has to be remembered that in the past corporal punishment for youngsters was seen as right and proper provided it wasn’t excessive. One of the usual rules in most schools was that only female teachers used CP on girls evidently it wasn’t always the case.  The other rule was bottom whacks across the bare bottom wasn’t allowed on boys or girls. However it seems that rule didn’t always apply to private schools.

In the 50s and 60s many parents used spanking at home. There were no rules as to how parents spanked. However most parents used spanking sensibly. I remember a few families that still used parental discipline in the 1970s, nice people who really cared for their children.

We must remember that all this was about 50 or more years years ago. Times were very different back then.

Hello six of the best,

I didn’t take any of your comments as criticism.  Although, I don’t actually mind criticism.  In these threads I literally post what I find and occasionally I’ll post my sentiments on what I think might have occurred or why.  I also will from time to time re-post what the term ‘unspecified anatomy’ means in case somebody is reading it for the first time. I know that you understand it

Regarding LEA policies its a tough one to cross reference.  Within these threads I essentially cover from the late 50s up to the ban.  Essentially a 30 year period.  I really woudn’t know where to start to access the policies for these time periods (though I have seen a couple).  Furthermore, I don’t know how often within this period the policies were likely to have been reviewed or changed.  I also strongly suspect that some schools adhered to the policy and some did not.

Finally, although I’ve not seen many, I am certain that there will have been a wide range of variation based upon both the region and time period.

Hello I, Researcher,

Another tour de force in your contribution #84 above!  Thank you, your efforts are both very impressive and greatly valued!  They certainly didn’t stint on the SCP in the North West of England!  It may be worth mentioning that for any readers who are unclear as to the status of a school and whether it was mixed or single sex in a given period, a quick search on the web will often answer any queries.  Some schools, especially Local Authority schools, went through several mergers, changes of status and pupil intake, and even changes of name, but somewhere there will almost certainly be details of these, probably most commonly on Wikipedia, which may save a query here.

There seems to be quite a lot of cross-gender SCP by male teachers on female students in the current batch of North West data.  However as you know I am an aspirant Earnest Seeker After The Truth About The Corporal  Punishment Of Schoolgirls, and for my Part 2 badge I have to concentrate on punitive loci specifically identified as other than the hands.

Any further details available on any of the following will be most welcome.  However there are rather a lot,  and even if you only have time to report any data on the episodes involving the cane (1 x  legs, 2 x  bottom, 1  x unspecified) I shall be most grateful.

Seedfield Secondary School, Bury
Patricia – b1959 – Slipper across legs by male teacher – 1970 to 1975
Christa – b1959 – Slipper across legs by male teacher – 1970 to 1975
Lesley – b1959  – …………….. & hand across legs by male teacher – 1970 to 1975
Wendy (A) – b1960 – Cane across legs by male teacher – 1971 to 1976
Tracy – b1961 – Slipper across bottom by male teacher – 1972 to 1977
Lorraine (B) – b1961 – Cane & slipper across bottom & hands by male teacher – 1972 to 1977
Jo – b1963 – – Slipper across bottom by male teacher – 1974 to 1979

St Anselm’s Secondary School,  Gorton
Susan -b1955 – Strap across bottom and hand anatomy by male teachers – 1966 to 1970
Zena – b1959 – Cane across bottom by male teacher – 1971 to 1976
Mags – b1964 – Slipper across bottom by male teacher – 1975 to 1980

St George’s Secondary School, Stockport
Sandra -b1949 – Cane across unspecified anatomy by male teacher (Class caning by a male student teacher) – 1960 – 1961

The target of the class caning at St George’s Secondary School, Stockport is of course unspecified,  but if any details are available they would be of interest because I believe in general student teachers were ether banned or strongly discouraged from administering SCP until they had completed a couple or so years as an established teacher.

That said, one of our former contributors did report that on his first teaching assignment, as a student teacher in a girls’ school, he was given a strap and told to whack away if required.  I am pretty certain that would have been at a school in the North West of England, though it may have been a private school.  I will try to locate the relevant contribution, but it may not be easy.  If I recall correctly he didn’t use his strap.  He was in general opposed to SCP, except when applied by female teachers, real or imaginary.