Pupils at the village school at Marston, Oxford, faced severe punishment if they stepped out of line.

A book on the history of the school records how, in 1903, “writing of an obscene nature” was found in exercise and reading books.

Inquiries failed to uncover the names of the “delinquents”, until one 10-year-old boy was caught red- handed.

The school head, Charley Broad, wrote in the school logbook: “He was brought out for punishment. On this being administered, he was guilty of gross insubordination in the shape of kicking, upon which he was more severely caned.

“The lad’s mother visited me during the evening and admitted having counselled him to kick if punished at any time.”

The mother brought her son to school next day and said she would leave him there only if the head agreed not to cane him again. When he refused, she became abusive and had to be ordered off the premises.

In contrast, another mother asked the head to cane her son for playing truant. He declined, saying it was best to leave the attendance officer to deal with him.

The book, Marston Village School 1851-1954, compiled by former governor Jan Sanders, recalls an occasion in 1903 when the village policeman, Pc Quartermain, arrived at school to arrest two 12-year-olds for stealing and in 1904 when three boys broke into the school, ransacking cupboards and breaking 35 panes of glass.

In the latter case, one boy was birched and sent to a reformatory for five years, another was sent to a reformatory for three years, while the other was bound over to keep the peace.

The cane continued to be used spasmodically. In 1909, the head, Henry Willis, recorded: “I was obliged to administer corporal punishment to several boys and girls. The punishment was only slight and especially so in the case of the girls.”

The following year, Harry Ward hit a fellow pupil in the playground, became insolent and broke the head’s cane.

Mr Willis wrote: “I immediately procured another and thrashed him.”