Schools Struggle with Cyberattacks: Recovery Rates Drop
Schools are grappling with a growing threat: cyberattacks. A recent report reveals a worrying trend. Only 55% of schools recovered immediately from cyber incidents in 2024-2025, a drop from 63% the previous year. Consequences are severe, including permanent loss of students' coursework. Meanwhile, schools hit by attacks are taking longer to restore their networks.
The Information Commissioner's Office reports that more than half of these attacks are carried out by students. Ofqual recommends regular data backups and malware protection to defend against these threats. However, schools are also vulnerable due to employees sending work data to personal devices, contributing to 20% of cyber incidents.
In 2024-2025, 10% of affected schools reported critical damage, up from 6% the prior year. This includes cases like Mecklenburg County Public Schools in the USA, which experienced a cyber security incident in September 2025, leading to a digital infrastructure outage and the use of traditional teaching methods. Teacher training in cybersecurity has increased from 61% to 72% between 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, but Ofqual suggests further expansion of cybersecurity awareness training for teachers.
As schools face more sophisticated threats, including professional cybercriminal operations and ransomware gangs, immediate recovery from cyber incidents is becoming less likely. Schools must prioritise robust cybersecurity measures and continuous staff training to protect against these growing threats.
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