It was generally considered OK for girls to cry and usually they did, likewise it was just about acceptable for first and possibly second year boys to cry, but if you came back blubbing when you were much over 12 that was considered bad form and you were regarded as a bit of a baby.
Unfortunately most canings of both sexes, boys by the Headmaster girls by the Senior Mistress – in private on the clothed bottom rather than hands – were carried out immediately after assembly and the rule was straight back to your classroom or else, so if you lost it there was no time to regain your composure.