Westminster Education Forum

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Improving cybersecurity in education settings in England - understanding current and emerging threats, and strengthening security and practices in schools, FE, HE, research and blended learning

November 2022


Starting from: £99 + VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF


This conference discussed the cyber threat landscape faced by educational institutions, from schools to higher education.


Delegates considered next steps for preventive measures, strengthening cyber security practices and recovery action plans across education settings, and how to train staff to understand and recognise cyber threats.


It was also an opportunity to discuss progress with the National Cyber Strategy 2022 and its implications for strengthening security practices from schools to universities.


It came with:


  • The Cyber Security in UK schools report from SWGfL and the University of Kent finding high incidence of cyber- and ransomware attacks on schools and lack of training and strategies
  • Jisc’s Cyber impact 2022 report into cyber security incidents across the FE, HE and research sectors, and making recommendations on awareness, training and staffing
  • The National Cyber Strategy 2022, which sets out plans for building in basic protections across UK organisations, including education settings

We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with Paul A, Head of Education, Academia and Charities - Economies and Society Team, National Cyber Security Centre; Pete Dingwall, Enterprise Security Architect, Sector Security Liaison, Department for Education; and Sharon Garrett, Cybersecurity Advisor, Department for Education.


Overall, areas for discussion included:


  • policy priorities: assessing the current cyber threat landscape in education settings - supporting schools with risk mitigation
  • security practices: strategies for security and minimising risks - staff awareness and training - developing recovery and response plans
  • blended learning: safeguarding students online and preventing against hacking - best practice in tracking student data
  • data management: promoting effective data management - aligning with data protection regulations and practices - protecting students’ personal information
  • cyber security in FE and HE: protecting HE research facilities and how to protect confidential data - effective asset management

The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from the DCMS; DfE; DfT; DIT; and HMRC - as well as by a parliamentary pass-holder from the House of Lords.



This on-demand pack includes

  • A full video recording of the conference as it took place, with all presentations, Q&A sessions, and remarks from chairs
  • An automated transcript of the conference
  • Copies of the slides used to accompany speaker presentations (subject to permission
  • Access to on-the-day materialfs, including speaker biographies, attendee lists and the agenda