SCHOOLS in Ilkley will have to fork out a massive rise in insurance premiums because of arson attacks miles away.

The surge in school fires in Bradford has led to a £1 million rise in fire insurance across the district.

Britain's biggest local authority insurer Zurich Municipal, is charging £1.3 million for Bradford Council's fire premium compared to £342,000 last year.

The company blamed the increase on the rise in arson attacks on schools which has led it to pay claims totalling £6 million after blazes destroyed Iqra Community Primary School in Manningham last September and Carlton Bolling College, in Undercliffe, in January 2000. No-one has been arrested in connection with either blaze.

Now head teachers have been warned by the council's director of finance Steve Morris that the average primary school will have to pay an extra £3,820 while secondary schools will have to fork out a whopping £21,000 increase.

Now one Ilkley head teacher has called for insurance premiums to be linked to postcodes, like car insurance.

Ilkley Grammar head Peter Wood said he had discovered a rise in the school's insurance premium for this year.

"We have got to query it - I really don't see why. I am concerned that our premiums should rise because of arson attacks in the city of Bradford," said Mr Wood, who added that he was hoping to negotiate with council officials to have it reduced.

Mr Wood said: "Car insurance goes on postcodes. Different area are more susceptible than others - it might be the same for schools."

The extra insurance premiums would put more financial pressure on Ilkley Grammar where staff and governors were working hard to try to reduce the school's annual deficit.

Mr Wood said that staff had been in discussions with the bursar in the hope of finding ways of reducing the school's budget.

But Ilkley district councillor Martin Smith, a governor at Ilkley Grammar, was more stoical about the insurance charges.

Coun Smith said: "I don't know what the figures are but it seems unfair. But we are in Bradford education authority and we have to take flak as we have for the riots because police have put their figures up - it is only similar.

"Whatever happens in Bradford we are dragged into it, being in the same authority. We had to pay for extra police because of the riots. We have to pay the extra - I can't see any other solution. If we were all independent communities we would be able to operate independently."

Kathryn Allen, chairman of governors at All Saints School, Leeds Road, said insurance premiums had risen considerably.

Mrs Allen said: "We had a finance meeting to set the budget and Mr Marsh (the head teacher) had explained it had gone up a lot.

"There has been a feeling that Ilkley has been paying for Bradford in the rates but that's the way it goes. It does seem a bit unfair. Since September 11, all insurance has gone up. I know the situation, and there is nothing I can do about it.

Head teachers were warned by the council's director of finance, Steve Morris, to prepare for the massive insurance charge increase.

Fire insurance costs are always paid by schools from their budgets which also have to cover teachers' salaries, books and equipment.

Most of the district's schools will be hit because they use insurance brokered by the authority rather than getting their own.

Councillor David Ward (Lib-Dem, Idle), the council's education chief, said the insurance premium increase was a blow as the authority was putting millions of pounds extra into schools to raise standards.

Tory education spokesman Councillor Dale Smith (Rombalds) said the council should take a closer look at security, including 24-hour cover at some schools.

The Labour spokesman for education, Councillor Ralph Berry said he was seeking talks with other political groups in the hope that funds could be found to help the schools.