Back in the late 70s, I was sent to a private boarding prep school for boys in the Midlands of the UK. The school itself was quite a small affair, being largely a family business. The headmaster was Mr Hurst, his wife acted as school administrator and their grown-up daughter was the matron. In addition, there were was a small teaching staff of around five or six other people.
This being the time it was, corporal punishment was still in use at the school. All the teachers had permission to smack bottoms in class if need be (always over their knee but only on the seat of your trousers). Mrs Ward, the matron, had a slipper which she used in the dorm, but this by contrast was always bare bottom. The ultimate sanction, unsurprisingly, was the cane from Mr Hurst himself.