Ecclesiastical Insurance is calling on schools to carry out important safety checks to avoid accidental fires this winter.
The specialist insurer issued the warning after the value of claims for electrical fires hit a 10-year high in 2025.
Despite increasingly high standards, fires caused by faulty electrical wiring and equipment are still very common – particularly as schools increasingly have more technology such as laptops, tablets and audio and lighting equipment potentially putting additional strain on ageing electrical systems.
Loss Adjusters Morgan Clark reported a total of 7,000 workplace fires across 2023 and 2024, with faulty electrical equipment identified as the leading cause.
In September St Martins School near Oswestry in Shropshire suffered a major fire which caused extensive damage to parts of the site, including the arts centre and dining area, and “destroyed” utilities across the campus. An investigation by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service revealed the cause of the blaze to be an accidental electrical fire.
A fire at Welshpool High School in the summer was believed to have been caused by an electrical fault with a fridge.
Ecclesiastical’s Risk Management team has produced guidance for schools, including a list of typical causes of electrical fires.
These include:
- Overloaded circuits
- Damaged leads
- Multiple adaptors and extension leads
- Unchecked or unmaintained wiring equipment
- Portable appliances
- Accumulation of dust around cooling fans or equipment
- Lighting, if placed close to a combustible material (for example, art displays, notice boards, stage sets)
Portable appliances such as laptops and tablets should be switched off when not in use and never left on charge unattended. Many of these devices have lithium-ion batteries, which can short-circuit or fail, leading to fires, so it is important to follow risk guidance and the manufacturer’s instructions.
Ecclesiastical discourages the use of portable heaters however, if electrical heaters are still being used, as well as ensuring they are well maintained, it is vital that they are also not left operating unattended or sited close to any combustible items, such as curtains.
At Christmas there are additional risks with decorations such as lights being used. The advice is to always switch Christmas lights off and unplug them from the mains to avoid potential overheating or faults.
Jo Whyman, Risk Management Director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “The impact of an electrical fire can be devastating, both in terms of potential loss of property but also disruption to pupils and staff.
“We’re encouraging schools to carry out essential checks and to make sure that fixed electrical systems are properly designed, installed, and maintained by competent electricians to current standards. It’s also really important to carry out inspections on any electrical appliances, such as kitchen equipment or audio-visual equipment, too.
“If customers need any further advice, they can call our risk advice line on 0345 600 7531 or email us at risk.advice@ecclesiastical.com, and one of our experts will call you back.”
For more information, visit www.ecclesistical.com.
