I remember reading The Poacher's Son, by Rachel Anderson, in 1990, and in that story Arthur Betts spent six months in reform school and what the kids experienced there was shocking. Arthur wasn't a bad kid, but he had learning difficulties and he skipped school. He landed in some trouble for poaching, and then went to reform school and the Labour Master there was downright cruel. I remember there was a small boy at reform school who used to wet the bed and the Labour Master made him stand with a soaked mattress and then birched him and his wounds became infected. I found that book very upsetting.