The DfE has published the report for their consultation: Narrowing the Digital Divide in Schools and Colleges, with the conclusion that schools can and want to meet the standards by 2030.
News
We often see a rise in the number of Subject Access Requests received by schools at the end of term or at the end of the academic year. This article, therefore, covers guidance and support around subject access requests, how to recognise them and how to respond.
As the academic year draws to a close, schools eagerly prepare to celebrate the achievements and fond memories of their students with end of year events. Sports days, graduation ceremonies, academic achievements, leavers events - these occasions are a highlight for pupils, staff and parents and sharing on social media often seems like the obvious way to share that information and celebration.
So, you've been asked to be the data protection champion/lead in your organisation! We explain what that means for Data Protection Education customers.
The changes to the Academy Trust Handbook will be effective from 1st September 2025 and include some statutory digital standards recommendations.
We've launched our Data Protection Compliance Overview Reporting in the Knowledge Bank.
A secondary school in Cornwall close for two days due to a 'cyber incident'.
📲👍It's Social Media day today - now an integral part of our daily lives both personally and at work. We take a look at some privacy considerations and acceptable use.
The DfE have issued guidance about how Ofsted looks at AI during inspection and regulation.
This podcast episode delves into the often-overlooked but crucial topic of records management within the school environment. It breaks down the lifecycle of a record from creation to disposal, highlighting the legal framework schools operate within, including the Data Protection Act 2018, UK GDPR, and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The episode also explores the consequences of non-compliance, the importance of a robust Records Management Policy, and the specific considerations for handl
📢 We are offering an 'early bird' 🐦 discount until the end of September for our MAT Conference in February 2026.
Join us for our latest podcast episode breaking down the key changes introduced by the UK's new Data (Use and Access) Act (DUAA), explaining its phased rollout and objectives.
It clarifies that the Act amends, rather than replaces, existing data protection laws like the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. The discussion covers the shift from the ICO to the Information Commission, the introduction of 'Recognised Legitimate Interests' as a lawful basis for processing data, refined
When will the Data Use and Access Bill become law?
The UK's data governance is undergoing change with the Data (Use and Access) Act (DUAA) receiving Royal Ascent and passing onto the statue books on 19th June 2025. Though it is becoming law, additional guidance is yet to emerge on the detail - some of the Act's provisions need a commencement order to take effect, with the next one expected on October 1, 2025. However, some parts of the Act will come into force imme
📢📢 Our MAT Conference is coming in 2026...... Save the date!
More information can be found about our speakers and the venue, Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa here 👉
DPE MAT Conference 2026
Speakers from the ICO, DfE and the Chief Commissioner - Data and Marketing Commission.
And of course a DPE goody bag! 🛍️
More information can be found about our speakers and the venue, Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa here 👉
DPE MAT Conference 2026
Speakers from the ICO, DfE and the Chief Commissioner - Data and Marketing Commission.
And of course a DPE goody bag! 🛍️
Join us for our first DPE podcast! Data Protection Training for School Staff
This podcast episode provides an overview of the Data Protection Education's 2024 training update, focusing on the legal framework and practical guidance for data protection in the workplace. The discussion covers key definitions like UK GDPR, Data Controller, Data Processor, Personal Data, and Data Protection Officer. It also highlights the importance of data protection in preventing breaches and fostering a strong
🤖 📢 The DfE has issued some training and guidance about the use of AI in Education. The guidance aims to help educators safely and effectively use AI to enhance the classroom experience and reduce teacher workload.
😎☀️ Did you know there is an increase in cyber attacks on a long weekend, half term and end of term, so a period of heightened cyber risk. This article gives some advice about what you need to have in place - it's particularly important that you are able to monitor your network during the long Summer break.
📳What's Up with WhatsApp? WhatsApp is a regular theme in relation to SARs, FOI's, data breaches and general use as tickets into our Knowledge Bank platform. Emma Martins, Chief Commissioner of the Data and Marketing Commission has worked with us to produce some guidance following the recent employment tribunal that was published in relation to a preschool.
Fraud is deception used to gain something valuable (money, goods, services or information) from someone else's dishonesty. We are seeing a lot of blended cyber attacks in the news currently where social engineering might then be combined with an impersonation followed by a ransomware attack, in order to take data and/or money.
The GOV.UK Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 is out and reveals that 43% of UK businesses and 30% of charities experienced a cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months. We review and highlight some key data protection points.
🚫🔒 Sensitive data requires a higher level of security under UK GDPR because of its potential to cause significant harm to individuals if it is lost, stolen or misused. A recent case of a teacher losing their job after accessing a safeguarding report and transcribing it to her personal computer highlights the both the importance for least privilege access and continual review of access.
📢 Another school has been hit with a cyber attack which has resulted in parent contact information being breached.
📢 We've received several phishing emails from schools recently that look like they are sharing a Microsoft file or folder with us.
Framlingham College, a boarding and day school for pupils aged 3 to 18 has said it identified a 'cyber security incident'.
A group of 13 secondary schools, 69 primary schools and 61 nurseries in West Lothian have suffered a cyber attack.
🛡️🕷️ The Scattered Spider is a fast-growing group of cyber attackers currently on the attack and possibly attributed to the recent attack on M & S - they don't just break in and grab one thing, they like to cause as much chaos as possible and then ask for a ransom.
📢 This week the news has reported cyber attacks on several major UK retailers: Marks and Spencer, the Co-op and Harrods, all of which have given everyone a stark reminder of the ever-present and evolving threat of cyber crime.
🔒 It's World Password Day - a reminder to check how secure your passwords are and where you store that information. There's a lot of password help and advice out there which can be confusing. We highlight the basic things you need to be thinking about.
⚖️🛡️ National Honesty Day, although one day to highlight the importance of honesty, it reminds us of how importance truth is in the realms of data protection and cyber security and how it should be part of an organisation's fundamental beliefs and ethos.
This article shares advice we have given to several customers who have received an FOI request from the BBC News about conducting research into the challenges of handling harmful sexual behaviour in schools.
- September Inset Day Online Training!
- Social Media and Marketing Guidelines and Training
- New Governor Resources
- Does stress lead to more data breaches?
- World Backup Day
- Are teachers using AI? 83% say its a time-saver
- DfE Digital Standards - narrowing the digital divide
- Arbor AI - On By Default
- DfE Guidance: Choosing a new MIS
- Sharing photos on World Book Day: Privacy considerations
- HCRG Care Group data breach
- Apple removes its highest level data security tool from UK customers
- The Importance of AI literacy and training staff
- How to verify visitors the right way
- Time's Ticking: Windows 10 support ends in October 2025!
- Short Guide to AI Video
- Safer Internet Day, Cyber Security & Data Protection
- The Cyber Resilience Championship
- The Multiple Dimensions of Supplier Due Diligence
- New Data Protection Fees
- School shares sensitive pupil information as part of an FOI response
- AI (Artificial Intelligence) Best Practice Area & Policy
- Blacon High School Cyber Attack
- WhatsApp and FOI's: ICO Warnings
- New AI Guidance from the DfE
- The role of Passkeys in Cyber Resilience and Cyber Security
- What the proposed Government legislative proposal around cyber crime means
- DPE Webinar Schedule
- ICO report on AI tools in recruitment
- DfE update to record keeping and management
- Update to data sharing for school immunisation programmes
- Early Years Settings and Cyber Security
- SLT Digital Lead Profile
- Ransomware-Resistant Backups
- The role of governors in cyber security and data protection
- DfE Digital Standards Webinars 2025
- Navigating Privacy at the End of Term , Special Occasions and End of Year
- Effectively communicating during a cyber incident
- Contracts Register
- South East Technological University has experienced a cyber incident
- Safeguarding Identity in Microsoft 365: Protecting the UK Education Sector Against Cyber Threats
- DfE Digital Standards Autumn Update
- The importance of knowing how to access your CCTV footage!
- Cyber Attack on a Special School
- Stealing children's data
- What is dark data? (and why does it matter?)
- Ofqual highlights the value of cyber security training in schools
- Searching for data when you receive a Subject Access Request
- Fylde Coast Academy Trust Cyber Attack This Week
- Calling all IT leads in schools and mult academy trusts!
- Ransomware cyber attack on a school in Bromley
- Join Our Social Media Family!
- School hit by Cyber Attack
- New Academic Year Kick-Off!
- New e-learning for 2024
- Cyber Security Best Practice Area
- DfE Digital Standards for Schools and Colleges Tracker
- New Policies, Documents, Letters and Posters page
- Schools and Trusts Best Practice Area
- The DPE Retention Schedule
- Making the Rounds Update (now includes reporting)
- ESFA Cyber Essentials Requirement for Colleges from 2024/2025
- ICO Reprimands a School
- How does the recent global IT outage affect me?
- King's speech introduces new bills in relation to cyber security, smart data and digital information
- Navigating Privacy at the End of Term , Special Occasions and End of Year
- Out of date technology
- Data Retention and the Pupil File
- Have you assigned your SLT Digital Lead yet?
- What's a Cyber Incident and what should we do?
- Getting Started with AI (Artificial Intelligence)
- Cyber attack on a school during half term
- Free short cyber training for staff
- UPDATE: The Upcoming Election and The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill
- Update to the DfE Digital Cyber Security Standards for Schools and Colleges (May 2024)
- The rise of cyber attacks in schools are causing pupils to miss classes
- ICO: Learning from the mistakes of others report
- Children's mental health data leaked after a cyber attack
- Cyber attack on a Trust; the aftermath
- School Focus: The Vale Federation | Aylesbury
- DfE Dealing with Subject Access Requests (SARs) Guidance
- Update to the Guidance on Information Sharing from the DfE
- FOI Requests generated by Artificial Intelligence
- Social Media Best Practice Area
- Lettings Best Practice Area
- Appropriate filtering and monitoring definitions
- MFA Bombing - What is it?
- Protecting your Social Media Accounts
- Why we recommend using checklists
- Product Focus on Checklists : Initial Trust Plan
- Product Focus on Checklists : End of Term Checklist
- Product Focus on Checklists : Information and Cyber Security
- Product Focus on Checklists : Social Media
- Cyber Incident Review: The Benefits
- Product Focus on Checklists : Lettings
- Product Focus on Checklists : Record of Processing
- Milk Island: The secret location that allows children to view restricted content on Google Maps
- Why Data Should Stay Put: Benefits of Keeping Data in Its Original System
- Product Focus on Checklists : Data Retention and Destruction
- Product Focus on Checklists : Data Migration
- Product Focus on Checklists : Biometrics
- Product Focus on Checklists : Supplier Due Diligence
- Free Cyber help, advice and training with the Cyber Resilience Centres
- The Perils of Paper: The Printing Vulnerability
- Product Focus on Checklists : FOI
- Product Focus on Checklists : Governors and Data
- Product Focus on Checklists : DPIA
- Product Focus on Checklists : Site Moves
- Product Focus on Checklists : Data Breaches
- Product Focus on Checklists : Subject Access Requests
- Cyber attack on a University
- Product Focus on Checklists : Bring your own device
- Product Focus on Checklists : Working out of school/offsite
- Cyber Attack on a School
- Product Focus on Checklists : Redaction
- Major cyber-criminal gang Lockbit brought down by UK Law Enforcement
- Why Due Diligence is Important: Fake apps
- Product Focus on Checklists : CCTV
- Product Focus on Checklists : Clear desk
- Product Focus on Checklists : Commitment to compliance
- Product Focus on Checklists : Photos and video
- Product Focus on Checklists : Passwords
- Product Focus on Checklists : Information Classification
- Safer Internet Day 2024
- Kent Councils Data Breach
- Free cyber training for staff
- DfE Digital Standards Update
- The Mother of all Breaches
- ClassCharts Possible Data Breach
- Where is your data stored?
- IAPP looks at AI privacy risks
- If you suspect a financial scam .....
- Guardians of Privacy: 16. Social Media Checklist
- Guardians of Privacy: 15. Navigating Social Media in Educational Settings Summary
- Guardians of Privacy: 14. Social Media and Cyber Bullying
- Guardians of Privacy: 13. Social Media, Copyright and Intellectual Property
- Guardians of Privacy: 12. Social Media and Going Viral
- Guardians of Privacy: 11. Staff Social Media Accounts
- Guardians of Privacy: 10. Social Media and Cookies
- Guardians of Privacy: 9. Social Media and Morality
- New Resources for Schools from the ICO
- Guardians of Privacy: 8. Social Media Policies
- Guardians of Privacy: 7. Social Media Data Retention
- Guardians of Privacy: 6. Posting Safely
- Guardians of Privacy: 5. Social Media and Consent
- Guardians of Privacy: 4. Social Media Access Control
- Guardians of Privacy: 3. Social Media Channels
- Guardians of Privacy: 2. Law and Regulations
- Guardians of Privacy: 1. Social media, privacy and children
- Latest ICO Reprimand. Mr. S. Claus, Chief Executive Officer, North Pole Enterprises
- Phishing attacks targeting schools - alert from City of London Police
- The Data Protection And Digital Information Bill (DPADI)
- The ICO reprimands a Multi Academy Trust
- KCSIE: Filtering, Monitoring and Privacy
- Guidance for the use of school email and applying email retention in schools
- CISA and UK NCSC Announce Joint Guidelines for Secure AI System Development
- Data Protection Tips for Early Years Settings
- Children's Privacy around the world is a puzzle
- Trust Initial Plan Checklist Update
- Update on Advisory for Rhysida Ransomware
- Records Management Best Practice Update
- Governors and Data Best Practice Area Update
- The Crime in a Cyber Attack and a Data Breach
- What do I need to redact?
- NCSC Annual Review is published for 2023
- Learning from Data Breaches
- Windows 11 security ineffective against attacks on old devices
- Trust Initial Plan for Data Protection Compliance (for Multi Academy Trusts)
- International Counter Ransomware Initiative 2023 Joint Statement
- Google for Education Resources: Helping IT Admins meet DfE digital and technology standards
- Resistant Cloud Backups
- Top Ten Cyber Security Misconfigurations
- Lettings Best Practice and Guidance
- ICO Reprimand: company suffered a ransomware attack
- The UK Online Safety Bill becomes an Act (Law)
- Considerations when migrating to a new MIS
- The importance of software updates (PaperCut vulnerability and Rhysida ransomware)
- Public bodies and sensitive data
- Adding offline bulk training using the Certificates function
- Ransomware, extortion and the cyber crime ecosystem
- Get a DPE Badge for your website!
- ICO: 10 Step guide to sharing information to safeguard children
- Schools under Cyber Attack: September 2023
- Cyber Resource: The Cyber Resilience Centre Group
- Email and Security: ICO recent guidance
- Help after a Cyber Attack/Incident
- Social Media Policy
- Data Protection and Cyber Security (Inset Day) Training Ideas
- Changes to Microsoft Free Licensing for Schools
- What to do in the event of a Cyber Attack
- Cyber Crime: AI Generated Phishing Attacks
- Handling Freedom of Information Requests the right way
- Cyber Attack: Exam Boards
- VICE SOCIETY - Ransomware attacks on schools
- Using Tags if you are a group of organisations in the DPE Knowledge Bank
- Where's Harry the Hacker?
- Be Cyber Aware: USB Sticks
- Cyber Insurance in the Public Sector
- Types of Cyber Attacks: DDos Attack (Microsoft DDoS Attack in June)
- Cyber Attack: Manchester University
- Cyber Attack: Leytonstone School
- The ICO Reprimands a school
- Be Cyber Aware: Firewalls
- Be Cyber Aware: Cyber attacks and transparency. A no blame culture
- Cyber Attack: Dorchester School
- Knowledge Bank Role Types: Admin, Staff and Trustee
- Types of Cyber Attacks: Password Attacks
- Be Cyber Aware: Why regular software updates are important
- Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2023
- Cyber Attack: Wiltshire School
- Keeping your IT systems safe and secure
- Types of Cyber Attacks: DDoS Attacks
- Types of Cyber Attacks: Phishing
- Types of Cyber Attacks: The Insider Threat
- Why your data is profitable to cyber criminals
- Using WhatsApp in Schools
- The Changes to Data Protection in the UK
- Knowledge Bank Updates
- Types of malware and how they are linked to data protection
- Striking Data Breach
- Windows Server 2012 & 2012 R2 Retirement
- How to contact us for support, subject access requests, data breaches and FOI's
- YouTube breached child protection laws
- How a school fought back after a cyberattack
- Types of Cyber Attacks - Credential Stuffing
- January Cyber update - How Can Schools Help Prevent Cyber Attacks?
- End of Windows 8.1 Support
- Assigning courses to staff using to-dos
- How the Record of Processing Can Help You
- Information Security Basics: What are VPN's?
- What does a Data Protection Officer Do?
- Are you ready for a Data Breach?
- Blog: Best Practice on the Retention of Child Protection Information
- Carrying out Supplier Due Diligence
- Email and retention periods
- How Long Should You Keep Personal Data For?
- The Education sector now at highest risk of cyber attacks
- How to Assess your Data Security
- Schools Blocked from Using Facial Recognition Systems
- Sharing this year’s Nativity play online
- The Children's Code
- B&H FoI: Racist/religious incidents/bullying
- Cyber Attacks
- Protocol for Setting Up and Delivery of Online Teaching and Learning
- Class Dojo International Data Sharing
- Model Publication Scheme: Amendments, Improvements and Updates
- Child friendly privacy notices
- Transparency
- Parents and students covertly recording conversations
- SAR? ER? FOI?
- Secure file transfer of files using Royal Mail
- Emergency contacts and consent
- Key elements of a successful DPIA
- FOI Publication Schemes
- SHARE: Avoid disinformation online
- Best Practice for Managing Photos and Video
- New Drip Feeds: Recognise and Respond to Subject Access Request
- When to contact the Data Protection Officer?
- National child measurement programme
- Make sure DPE is your registered DPO with the ICO
- Compliance Manager released
- Headteacher fined for breach of data protection legislation
- Emails – good practice and minimising the risk of a data breach
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