Schools with a history of arson attacks are being told to consider hiring night watch security staff if the firefighters' strikes go ahead.

Heads teachers though have raised concerns that no extra cash is being offered to schools to help pay for the extra cover.

Strike dates

29- 31 October 2-4 November 6-14 November 22-30 November 4-12 December 16-24 December All start and end at 0900 GMT

In a letter to all heads and local education authorities in England, the Department for Education says all schools should open as normal in the event of a strike.

But it warns that the cover provided by military firefighters "will be thinly spread and will give priority to saving life".

Military personnel will be less likely to know their way around school premises, the letter goes on.

Schools are advised to find ways of lessening the blow of losing "irreplaceable paperwork and computer files".

For example, duplicate copies of GCSE and A-level coursework should be kept in a fire resistant store.

Extra costs

Martin Ward, deputy general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, said the advice was sensible enough.

But he said schools with a history of arson attacks could be hard hit financially if they opted to employ night security staff.

"We would like to think there might be some sympathy for their situation and funds to make it possible," said Mr Ward.

"These schools tend to be in difficult areas and have plenty of problems as it is - now they are likely to be faced with extra costs."