Schools are being urged to check their fire precautions and evacuation procedures as firefighters stage a 48-hour strike over pay.

The Department for Education has issued guidance to all schools and local education authorities in England suggesting schools at risk of arson attacks may consider hiring night security staff.

Strike dates

13-15 November Starts and ends at 1800 GMT 22-30 November Starts/ ends 0900 4-12 December Starts/ ends 0900 16-24 December Starts/ ends 0900

The advice says that while all schools should open as normal, head teachers must be aware that cover provided by military firefighters would be "thinly spread" and would "give priority to saving life".

Military personnel would be less likely to know their way around school premises, the guidance warns.

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.

Schools are also urged to check their insurance cover is up to date.

'Sensible'

Head teachers broadly welcomed the guidance as sensible and helpful, but raised concerns about the costs of employing extra staff.

Martin Ward, deputy general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, said schools with a history of arson attacks would be hard hit financially if they opted to employ night security staff.

Mr Ward said while he was not aware of any schools that had decided to buy in extra staff in the wake of this week's strike, any schools that did should receive financial help from the government.

"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 could be faced with extra costs."