Cyber security in schools
Provide your staff with a 30-minute rundown on how they can help keep your school IT systems and personal data safe from cyber attacks. Use this course to guide them through what good cyber security looks like and test their knowledge with scenarios.
Who it's for
All staff
We've updated this course to address cyber security in relation to AI.
This course covers:
- How to spot common cyber security risks (such as ‘phishing’ emails) and how to avoid them
- Creating strong passwords to enhance device and system security
- What to do in the event of a cyber security breach
This course is designed for school staff, and won’t cover the additional information your governors or trustees will need to fulfill their role in cyber security. We have a separate cyber security course for governors and trustees.
If you have specialist IT staff, they’ll need more technical training to help them fulfill their responsibilities around cyber security.
Please note: Your school or trust's insurers may require you to complete specific cyber security training. For example, if your school is a member of the risk protection arrangement (RPA), to be fully covered by the RPA, every person with a login for your school's IT system must complete the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)'s cyber security training course for schools, annually. Make sure you complete any required training and check with your headteacher if you're not sure.
We want our training to be a positive experience for all learners. If you have any access needs (for example, a visual impairment or dyslexia), please let us know to see how we can help by contacting [email protected].
We'd love to hear your feedback
If you've completed this course, we'd love to hear your thoughts on it. Our feedback form takes about 3 to 5 minutes to complete.
Sources
- Password administration for system owners, National Cyber Security Centre
- Avoiding phishing attacks, National Cyber Security Centre
- Ransomware, National Cyber Security Centre
- Cyber security standards for schools and colleges, GOV.UK - DfE
- Judicium Education
Our thanks to the following experts for helping us develop the content of this course:
Vickie Cieplak is cyber protect, prepare and prevent officer, and Edward Trimbee is detective sergeant, at West Midlands Regional Cyber Crime Unit. Funded by the National Cyber Security Programme, the unit delivers free cyber crime policing support to the public and private sector in its region.
Karen Mitchell has spent much of her career working in local authorities providing ICT and information management support services to schools. She now works as an independent consultant in the school sector and is vice chair of the resource committee on a school governing board.
More cyber security resources for your school
Guidance, checklists and resources to share with staff
How to protect a school from cyber attacks
Cyber security should be a top priority for schools. Find out how and when to check if your systems and processes are good enough, and follow our links to free tools, training and support.
Cyber security glossary
Understand key cyber security terms, so you know about common forms of cyber attacks and how you can protect your school against them.
Meeting the DfE’s digital and technology standards: priorities checklist
Make sure your school’s IT services and equipment meet the DfE’s minimum standards. Use our downloadable checklist to review your current provision, and get to grips with what to prioritise and what your next steps should be.