School boards across the UK are facing increasing pressure to strengthen their cyber security measures and protect sensitive student and staff data. Recent surveys from Ofqual and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) highlight significant issues, including slow recovery after attacks and insider threats originating from students and staff.

Schools are becoming prime targets for cyber attacks due to the sensitive data they store and the increasing reliance on digital systems. According to Ofqual, 29% of schools experienced a cyber security incident during the 2024/25 academic year. Cyber attacks can disrupt day-to-day operations, affect student learning, and compromise personal data.

Slow Recovery from School Cyber Security Breaches

Despite a slight reduction in incidents, recovery times have increased:

• Only 55% of schools affected by a cyber incident were able to recover immediately, down from 63% the previous year.
• One academy trust experienced major disruption and total loss of schedules and student coursework.

Long recovery times can have lasting consequences for both educators and students, highlighting the need for robust recovery plans.

School Insider Threats Put Data at Risk

Insider threats are a growing concern for schools. In their recent survey, the ICO found:

• Over half of school insider cyber attacks are caused by students.
• Almost a third of insider attack incidents are caused by students guessing weak passwords or finding them jotted down on paper.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) have reported that one in five children aged 10 to 16 have been found to engage in illegal activity online. The youngest referral to the NCA’s Cyber Choices programme was only seven years old.

Staff and organisational practices also contribute to risk:

• Allowing students to use staff devices.
• Sending sensitive data to personal devices.
• Failing to set correct access rights to shared systems like SharePoint.

Addressing insider threats is critical to protecting school data and maintaining trust.

Practical Steps to Improve Your School’s Cyber Security

Schools can take several proactive measures to strengthen their cyber security and protect sensitive information:

• Install and maintain effective malware protection to prevent attacks.
• Take regular off-site backups and frequently test recovery procedures.
• Follow the Government’s Cyber Essentials guidance:
• Implement and enforce a strong password policy.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for all logins.
• Apply the principle of least privilege for user accounts, giving staff and students only the access they need.

Regular reviews of technical controls and incident response plans ensure that your school is prepared for potential cyber incidents.

How Blueloop Supports Schools

We support and manage IT for independent schools, giving us first-hand insight into the cyber security challenges faced by education.

Our services help schools prevent and recover from cyber incidents efficiently:

• IT Support and Managed Services for Schools
• Off-site Backup & Disaster Recovery Testing
• Educational Continuity Planning
• Cyber Security Penetration Testing
• IT Audits, System Design, and Project Management
• Wired network and Wi-Fi Consultancy and Implementation
• Systems Integrations and Updates
• Intranets and Portals for Education

By partnering with Blueloop, school boards can ensure robust protection for their IT systems and maintain continuity in the face of evolving cyber threats.

Conclusion

Cyber security and data protection are critical priorities for schools. Understanding risks such as slow incident recovery time and insider threats, and implementing proactive measures, can help protect students, staff, and sensitive data.

If you are concerned that your school’s IT or cyber security policies and procedures are not robust or have not been regularly reviewed, contact Blueloop to schedule a penetration test or IT audit. Our expert team provides actionable insights and solutions tailored to the unique needs of schools.