The cost of fire damage to schools increased to £65 million in 2008 with three in four of those affected claiming over arson attacks, figures have revealed.
Schools in London and the South East put in the highest number of claims in the past year, with 34% coming from those areas at a cost of £22.1 million, according to the information published by schools insurer Zurich Municipal.
East Anglia was also badly affected as 28% of the blazes happened in the region, costing £18.2 million.
A further 15% were in Wales and the South West, 11% in the North East and 6% in the North West. The North and Scotland both had 2% of the fires while the Midlands fared the best with just 1%.
The cost of the fires was up on the £53 million of refurbishment costs in 2007, the insurer said.
Zurich called on the Government to install sprinklers in all new schools as the cost of fire damage continues to rise.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said it is working with the Arson Prevention Bureau to cut the number of arson attacks on schools.
