Did tradition play a part? Certainly – but most traditions in schools actually have some common sense behind them at least originally.
I would go some way to agreeing, Private schools who have a more traditional approach dont seem to have the same problems with discipline state schools have since the abolition of CP.
How long did these experiments last, months, years ? and how many schools were involved.
In some cases, months and years, yes. And many schools tried it.
From what I have read I do feel Austrailan schools have a higher expectaion of its pupils than the uk, what might have been seen as a failure there might not have been so in the UK .
Some Australian schools. And there are some British schools that do as well. Both countries have a very broad mix of schools.