When the rest of the class had gone, she took me into the small science prep room, and said that she had intended to send me to the headmaster to be caned, but had decided to punish me herself. I was very relieved at first, because although I had never been caned, I knew boys who had and I knew that it would be awful. From his secondary school report: "Sulky, mischievous, selfish -- a thorough nuisance -- bully ... stole bicycle from school shed -- gambles -- threatened small boys for money. Disobedient -- responds only to firmest discipline -- resents correction. Utterly lazy ... our very worst boy." According to a remand home report the situation between the boy and his mother's employer is "apparently so explosive that it was deemed necessary to remove him at the first opportunity." A social worker described this man as "a very difficult customer."

This book contains the following three fictional stories depicting the corporal punishment of sixth form schoolgirls: I would have thought that this was far too brutal. I would be very concerned if a boy was brought to me with these injuries." The official studied colour slides taken by the master of injuries suffered by the boys, three of whom are aged 14 and the other 15. Withheld

I attended a boys’ grammar school in the North of England in the 1960s. Corporal punishment was widely used. Most of the teachers used the slipper, while the headmaster and deputy head used the cane.

His objection is to the flogging of "maladjusted, emotionally disturbed boys, usually from poor or broken homes or without parents."A good-natured, friendly and mischievous youngster. Though one of the quieter members of the group his good-humoured sense of fun tended to get him into trouble for 'impertinence,' but he has not been a disciplinary problem. He responded easily to friendly interest and encouragement." Rule 35 for approved schools says that six strokes is the maximum permitted for boys aged under 15. There have been well substantiated reports of this kind before. A staff member alleges that it is happening all the time. THE approved schools date from the monumental Children's Act of 1933. They were intended to be a break away from the reformatory mentality. "We shall avoid the penal aspect of these places," said the Home Secretary of the day -- Sir John Simon. The master's view of corporal punishment is that, though he disapproves generally, it "does no harm in many cases, particularly in ordinary schools, where the boy is normal and healthy."

The master who took the photographs claimed that beatings there had contravened approved school regulations. Mr. Gibbens, 54, will hear evidence with one assessor, Mr. W.J. Wardle, superintending inspector of the Home Office Children's Department.The boy receives no visits or letters from his mother. At Christmas he was unable to go home because his mother was "rather disturbed." A psychologist described him as "dispirited, a bit 'damped down' and quiet ... now and then he can give you a cheery smile and be quite friendly ... timid ... dislikes the fights at his school." According to a master at the school -- who took the photographs -- the punishments were fairly typical and not excessive by the school's normal standards. Many of them are violent. About 20 p.c. of them have never yet committed an offence but are merely beyond parental control. The master making the allegations at first refused to go to the Home Office because, he said, he feared an inquiry could lead to the dismissal of a headmaster who was merely typical of many others.

Reconstruction of boy being caned at Skegby Hall school - we see two boys waiting outside the headmaster's office. One goes inside and from his point of view he is talked to be the headmaster and then receives the cane. We cut to the boy waiting outside who winces at the noise. Shots of boys in playground at Skegby Hall school. Peter Plant interview with Nottinghamshire councillor Brenda Borrett, Chairman of the Social Services Committee about the reasons why the council found it necessary to reintroduce corporal punishment in the approved boys schools, particularly with the need to curb the increase in assaults on staff. Interview with the headmaster at the school, George Lincoln, who talks about his belief that having the right to use the cane deters violent incidents at the school and giving examples of how these incidents have decreased since he has used the cane. Interviews with some of the boys asked whether or not they considered the right to cane a good idea. We are not prepared to comment on these pictures without an opportunity to investigate their authenticity. As at least one, however, appears to suggest punishment in excess of that permitted under the Approved School Rules, we urge you in the interests of all concerned to name the approved school so that an immediate investigation can be carried out."When the present Government took office it published some revolutionary suggestions for changing the juvenile courts and treating young offenders.