If there was more than one girl you went in order of your form, the youngest first. The first time I was sent to my housemistress there were two other girls but as the youngest, I went first. There were always 2 canes on the desk. I learned later that one was for a hand caning and the longer one for your bottom.
I remember my first time even now. I was shaking with fear having hardly slept the night before, knowing what was to come. Even though my mother had spanked me at home this was entirely different. I had never had the cane and here was a stranger going to cane me in cold blood. I only got one stroke on the hand but I was in tears before it landed. I vowed it would be the first and last time but it didn’t work out like that. I hope this gives listeners an insight into the regime at an English boarding school.