In many cases the use of corporal punishment in schools was at the discretion of the Head, following on down the line to the teacher. Of course the authority governing the said school would initially sanction the use.
The cane or whatever implement could, and often was , used on either the hand or buttocks at the same school. Again it would be at the teacher’s own discretion. In many cases there was no actual rule, all the authorities were primarily interested in was how well the school was functioning.