cyber attacks | Schools Week

Speed read: ‘Academy trust handbook’ 2021 published as DfE rebrands key guide

The DfE has rebranded the academies financial handbook as the academy trust handbook, with ministers dubbing the latest edition a “one stop shop” for academy leaders. The update has also seen financial notices to improve renamed as “notices to improve”, to reflect that the warnings issued to academies sometimes cover “broader governance issues”. Baroness Berridge, […]

Surge in ‘devastating’ ransomware attacks cripples schools

Schools were forced to delay pupils’ return to the classroom, suspend Covid testing and cancel parents evening after hackers struck in a series of targeted ransomware attacks. A Schools Week investigation can reveal the devastating aftershocks of the cyber attacks, as the government’s security centre warned this week of the “growing threat” facing schools. At […]

Government warns academies as email ‘phishing’ scams inflict financial losses

Academies and other educational institutions are being warned about new cyber-attacks which have already claimed some victims and resulted in financial losses. The latest Education and Skills Funding Agency update, published today, contains information about a “phishing” scam – where a fraudster disguises as a trustworthy source in an electronic communication to trick people into […]