Cyber security is no longer just an IT issue — it’s a school leadership responsibility. Senior leaders and governors are accountable for compliance, resilience, and safeguarding. The Department for Education has urged a “shift in mindset at the top”, recognising cyber security as a “fundamental leadership responsibility.”
The risks are real: according to the UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025, 60% of secondary schools and 44% of primary schools reported a cyber breach or attack in the past year. These incidents are disruptive, costly, and damaging to reputation.
This 60-minute, in-person session will give you five essential steps to protect your school, reduce risks, and ensure cyber security strengthens — rather than disrupts — teaching and learning.
What you’ll gain
Led by Matthew Setchell, CTO at Concero, this practical session combines research, real stories, and actionable strategies designed for school leadership teams.
By the end of this event, you will:
- Understand what cyber security means in an educational context — and who is most at risk.
- Recognise the most common types of cyber attacks schools face today.
- Learn how penetration testing works, why it’s vital, and how to begin with a strategy tailored to your school.
- Discover the benefits of Cyber Essentials certification, helping you prepare for threats and meet compliance requirements.
- Explore how ethical phishing campaigns can raise awareness and strengthen your school’s cyber culture.
- Gain confidence in how auditing and expert partnerships can support your leadership role.
- Leave with practical, actionable steps to keep your school safe, secure, and compliant.
Key topics covered
- Cyber Essentials: leadership’s role in compliance and protection.
- Ethical phishing: testing awareness and building a positive culture.
- Penetration testing: uncovering vulnerabilities before attackers do.
- Cyber security auditing: demonstrating accountability at leadership level.
