Estelle Morris says schools can choose how to improve security

As well as reinforcing security devices, the money could also be spent on increasing support staff hours to extend the time that the school buildings were occupied, she said.

Ms Morris said that, according to most local education authorities, the introduction of CCTV systems would be welcomed by staff, parents and pupils.

Safe schools enabled teachers and pupils to get on with teaching and learning, she said.

There has been an increased awareness in schools in recent years of the risk of attacks on pupils and staff, with schools now more likely to have secured perimeters and procedures for controlling visitors.

This has followed a number of incidents involving attacks in and around school premises.

In March 1996 a gunman killed 16 children and a teacher at a primary school in Dunblane in Scotland.

And in December 1995, head teacher Philip Lawrence was murdered outside St George's School in Westminster.

Schools have also been seen as vulnerable to break-ins and vandalism, with their campuses not designed to keep out intruders and premises often left empty for long periods of time.

Arson in schools has been a recurrent problem, particularly during the long summer holiday.