Vandalism, arson and metal thefts are costing schools hundreds of thousands of pounds a year across the West Midlands and Staffordshire, figures reveal.

The revelation comes just days after a £10,000 trail of destruction was discovered at Jessons CE Primary School in Dudley, after thieves searched in vain for lead to steal.

Previous attacks which had cost £140,000 had already prompted the school to remove the metal.

From 2009-2011, Dudley Council had to make insurance claims of £165,631 to cover repairs, Walsall faced a bill of £138,541, Sandwell had to pay £91,340, while schools in Staffordshire suffered damage to the tune of £77,796, excluding the insurance excess paid by the schools. And Wolverhampton council bosses have had to borrow most of a further £5 million for arson-hit Wilkinson Primary School to be rebuilt.

The £3.2m remainder of the bill for the new school in Walter Road, Bilston, will be covered by insurance.

Worcester City Council meanwhile revealed it had to make insurance claims of a combined £50,522 to repair schools in Hagley, Kidderminster, Bewdley and Stourport.

Councillor Bob Badham, Sandwell’s education chief, added: “You wonder what motivates these people.

“These acts disrupt children’s education and puts working parents out who have to find someone to look after their children while schools are closed.

“And metal thieves are even more mindless because they get such little cash for the scrap.”

Police spokesman Lee Page added: “Schools are at the heart of our neighbourhoods and every time an institution is targeted it has massive knock-on effects.”