The headlines often focus on large organisations or governments falling victim to cyber attacks, such as M&S and the Co-op, however, there is an increasing number of attacks on schools and colleges.  A ransomware attack on a school can be particularly devastating, crippling operations, disrupting learning and putting sensitive student and staff data at risk.

What does it look like?
Imagine arriving at school one morning to find all the computer systems locked. Teachers can't access lesson plans, student attendance records are encrypted, administrative systems are frozen, and the school's communication channels are down. Instead of login screens, a ominous message appears: "Your files are encrypted. Pay [X amount] in cryptocurrency to restore access."

The cascading effects are immediate and severe:

• Academic Disruption: Classes grind to a halt. Online learning platforms are inaccessible. Students can't submit assignments, and teachers can't deliver lessons. Exams may be postponed or cancelled.

• Operational Paralysis: Payroll systems, student information systems, financial records, and facilities management are all locked down. The school can't function.  Often even the phone and door entry systems are offline.

• Data Loss & Exposure: Critical data, including sensitive student information (medical records, behavioural notes) and staff data (HR files, payroll), could be permanently lost if backups aren't robust or exposed to the attackers.

• Financial Strain: The cost of recovery is immense, often involving hiring external cybersecurity experts, purchasing new hardware, and potential legal fees. Even if a ransom isn't paid, the financial hit is significant.

• Reputational Damage: Parents lose trust, enrolment may decline, and the school's reputation in the community suffers.

• Long Recovery: Getting systems back online is not a quick fix. It can take weeks or even months of intensive work, diverting resources and attention from the core mission of education.

Ransomware attacks on schools highlight the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures, comprehensive backup strategies, and ongoing awareness training for all staff. The digital classroom is a critical environment that demands protection.

Schools and colleges should look to the DfE Digital Standards to help with cyber strategy and cyber resilience. Data Protection Education customers have access to help, guidance, resources and the DfE Leadership & Governance trackers allowing you to track your progress.  Contact us for more information about the DfE Digital Standards and how you can add tracking their progress to your Compliance Reporting Portfolio.

Cyber Breaches Survey 2025 - Education

• Prevalence of cyber security breaches or attacks in the last 12 months was high among secondary schools (60%), further education colleges (85%), and higher education institutions (91%). They were all more likely to experience a breach or attack than businesses overall (43%).
• Primary schools were close to the businesses overall in terms of how many identified breaches or attacks (44% primary schools and 43% businesses).
• Amongst those who identified a breach or attack, further education colleges and higher education institutions were also more likely than businesses overall to experience a wider range of attack types, such as impersonation (68% of further and higher education institutions combined compared to 34% of businesses overall), viruses or other malware (42% of further and higher education institutions combined compared to 18% of businesses overall), and denial of service attacks (36% of further and higher education institutions combined compared to 5% of businesses overall).
• Further and higher education institutions were more likely to be affected by cyber breaches and attacks on a frequent (weekly) basis (30%) compared to primary schools (9%) and secondary schools (16%). Four in ten further and higher education institutions (40%) experienced a negative outcome from a breach.

Full report 👉Cyber security breaches survey 2025: education institutions findings

💡Today's Cyber Tip: Review your backup strategy

Ransomware encrypts your sensitive files and demands payment. Regularly back up your important photos, documents, and videos to a separate, external hard drive or a reputable cloud service. 

The North East Resilient Centre offers help advice for cyber attacks:


Source of information: Ransomware attacks on schools and colleges continue to rise

Review the ANME (Association of Network Managers in Education) Blog: Cyber Attacks on Schools - Why they are increasing and what we can do.  This is part of a series of articles designed to raise awareness of the importance of cyber security in schools.  

Articles about Ransomware Attacks:

• Update on Advisory for Rhysida Ransomware
• International Counter Ransomware Initiative 2023 Joint Statement
• VICE SOCIETY - Ransomware attacks on schools
• The importance of software updates (PaperCut vulnerability and Rhysida ransomware)
• ICO Reprimand: company suffered a ransomware attack
• Ransomware cyber attack on a school in Bromley
• October 7: Under Attack: The Reality of Ransomware
• October 8. How Can Your Organisation Prevent Ransomware Attacks?

Articles about Cyber Attacks on Schools:

• Cyber attack on a school during half term
• Cyber Attack on a School
• The rise of cyber attacks in schools are causing pupils to miss classes
• Cyber attack on a Trust; the aftermath
• Cyber attack on a University
• Cyber Attack: Manchester University
• School hit by Cyber Attack
• Ransomware cyber attack on a school in Bromley
• Fylde Coast Academy Trust Cyber Attack This Week
• Cyber Attack on a Special School
• South East Technological University has experienced a cyber incident
• Blacon High School Cyber Attack
• A Wake-Up Call for Cyber Vigilance - Danger in the Threat Landscape for Everyone
• West Lothian Schools in Cyber Attack
• School cyber attack: Framlingham College, Suffolk
• Alert: Schools receiving Microsoft File Sharing Phishing Emails
• School cyber attack: Outwood Academy, Middlesbrough
• School closes for two days after cyber incident
• The Online SCR Data Breach: What You Need to Know
• Nursery Cyber attack

DPE Knowledge Bank Guidance and Support:

For schools and colleges, six of the DfE Digital Standards are now mandatory. We have a DfE Digital Standards Tracker tool help you track your cyber resilience and your progress: 

   

Review our Cyber Security Best Practice Area for micro learning, support, guidance and policies:

Cyber Security Best Practice Area

Why not have a look at our 'specialist' trainer Harry the Hacker :