Yes, the cane on the hand was the most common punishment for girls when corporal punishment was still allowed in schools in England, up until about 1987 in comprehensive schools, and even longer into the early 1990s for private schools. Some girls and boys also received the cane on their bottoms at times, but this was certainly less common for girls, and was usually given over their knickers when it did happen.
I don't think you saw anything, but it was part of the storyline where the teacher was a bit of a harsh lady and it ended with a girl feeling ill and falling off the top of the wall bars in one lesson
I am certain there was an equally controversial scene where a Gym Mistress tries to pull a new girl's skirt up to check she has the correct knickers on for PE
Thanks, and yes, I think most people watching would have wished Cathy was caned on her tightly beskirted bottom, or with skirt raised, rather than having to hold her hand out.