The study, based primarily on face-to-face interviews with head teachers at some 450 maintained schools, attempted to gauge the prevalence of arson incidents, to document what schools and education authorities were doing to prevent such fires, and to provide guidance on the direction and shape of future preventive strategies. Nearly one in eight schools experienced arson or suspected arson in the year under review, a substantially higher rate than was previously estimated from incidents reported to the fire service or other authorities. Principals’ perceptions of the motives of suspected arsonists included malicious damage, play behavior, mentally disturbed behavior, grudge against school/staff, burglary or property crime, and drunkenness or drugs. Tables, notes