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AI-manipulated images of smiling children, symbolizing the urgent online safety risks for schools
Best Practice Updates

This article combines guidance from the Guardians of Privacy series, produced by Data Protection Education in collaboration with Litus Digital, with urgent new advice issued in May 2026 following confirmed blackmail attempts against UK schools using AI-manipulated images of children. Key sources include the UK Safer Internet Centre (8 May 2026) and the Internet Watch Foundation.

Department for Education's Cyber Security Hub graphic, showing digital protection for schools against cyber threats.
Information/Cyber Security

Cyber attacks on schools are no longer a distant threat. The Department for Education (DfE) has just launched a dedicated Cyber Security Hub to help schools navigate this growing danger, and as a school leader, it's worth understanding exactly what it offers and why it matters.  If you were at our conference in February you were lucky enough to see a preview of the tool!

DfE Digital Standards guidance for Wi-Fi networks, highlighting new Wi-Fi 7 and Wi
Best Practice Updates

The DfE Wireless Networks is part of the DfE Digital Standards guidance and has recently been updated to include references to Wi-Fi7. You must check with this standard before you plan any Wi-Fi upgrades!

What's New?

There is a now clear guidance that specifies that any new wireless solution or upgrade must, at a minimum, meet the Wi-Fi 8 standard.

What is Wi-Fi 7?

Wi-Fi 7 provides significantly higher throughput and lower latency. In a classroom where 30 students might simultaneously stream high-definition educational videos or engage in augmented reality (AR) lessons, Wi-Fi 7 ensures the connection remains stable and fast.

What is the DfE Wireless Network Standard?

Icon representing the DfE Digital Core Standards for Cyber Security updates in Schools and Colleges. The Wireless Network Standard is part of the set of DfE Digital Standards and one of the main core six which the DfE require schools to be meeting by 2030.

The core sections are:

🛜Wireless Standard

  • A high performance solution is needed to make sure that the speed of the connection does not slow down as more devices connect to the wireless network.

🛜Wireless Signal

  • A good wireless connection relies on signal strength. It's important to make sure there is strong signal coverage in all areas of your school or college where mobile devices are to be used.

🛜Central Management

  • A wireless network will be made up of many wireless access points. A central management solution will allow your support team to monitor and configure your network and identify and resolve issues.

🛜Security Features

  • Your school or college IT networks should prevent access by unauthorised users while providing access to regular and guest users.

Wireless Checklist:

Feature Standard Requirement
Minimum Standard Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Authentication WPA3 / Certificate-based / MFA for admins
Coverage 100% of learning and admin areas (verified by heat maps)
Management Centralized, manufacturer-approved management tool
Resilience Manufacturer warranty and 24/7 support arrangements

When do I need do this?

Whenever you upgrade or change your current Wireless Network, review the latest guidance in the DfE Wireless Network Standards to ensure you are meeting the standard. 

You should upgrade or change your network if it is no longer meeting your device requirements.

DPE Tracker Update

  • Replaced Wi-Fi 6 with Wi-Fi 7 reference and question.
  • Added clear statement about the DfE Cyber Security Standards being one of the six core standards.
  • Additional links to the Cyber Security Standard as a dependency.

Where do I start?

If you're unclear about where to start with this, we would advise initially assigning an SLT digital lead in your organisation and work from there. The responsibility of meeting the standard lies with the school, it is up to you to ask your IT provider if you are meeting the standard and how to meet the standard.  The DfE Digital Standards are a series of standards in document form that help you work towards being cyber resilient in all aspects of the organisation.

Making the Rounds: we will ask some of these questions when we come and visit your school or trust as part of our Making the Rounds or data walk.  We will then provide feedback via a report.

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  6. Sharing photos on World Book Day: Privacy considerations
  7. The Danger of the 'Data Dump': Why more information isn't always better!
  8. Cyber Alert: Surrey and Sussex Schools Targeted by Phishing and Ransomware Attacks
  9. Parents and students covertly recording conversations
  10. New DfE AI Standards
  11. Is your IT Support Provider Compliant?
  12. The Government Cyber Action Plan
  13. School Cyber Attack: Higham Lane School Hit by Major Cyber Attack: Campus Remains Closed
  14. What does the technology in schools survey tell us?
  15. IT Support Standards for Schools and Colleges Guidance (DfE Digital Standards)
  16. Sharing information to safeguard children and young people in the education sector in the UK
  17. October 31. On the road to improving cyber resilience
  18. October 30. Cyber Support
  19. October 27. Passwords
  20. October 26. Physical Security of Digital Assets
  21. October 24. Backups: Your Recovery Safety Net
  22. October 22. Hardware: Printers
  23. October 21. Hardware: Asset Management
  24. October 20. Hardware: Safe disposal
  25. October 19. Anti-virus/anti-malware
  26. October 18. Regular Updates: Patching Against Threats
  27. We've teamed up on a podcast with the Small Business Cyber Security Guy
  28. October 10. Understanding Your Cyber Posture
  29. Time's Ticking: Windows 10 support ends in October 2025!
  30. October 9. A Guide for Education Providers
  31. October 4: When a Cyber Attack Hits
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  33. Fraud awareness from the DfE
  34. The Classroom's Dark Side: Cyber crime from the Classroom
  35. Data Breach: School sends out names and contact details in a spreadsheet.
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  40. Building a Secure School: Using the ICO Accountability Framework to Meet DfE Digital Standards
  41. Why Physical and Data Security Must Go Hand-In-Hand
  42. Digital Safeguarding: DfE announces statutory DfE Digital Standards
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  44. Changes to the Academy Trust Handbook 2025
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  46. Social Media Day 2025
  47. How Ofsted looks at AI during inspection and regulation
  48. Data Breaches 2025 Report Highlights
  49. Not everyone needs access: The Key to Protecting Sensitive Data
  50. School cyber attack: Outwood Academy, Middlesbrough
  51. Alert: Schools receiving Microsoft File Sharing Phishing Emails
  52. School cyber attack: Framlingham College, Suffolk
  53. West Lothian Schools in Cyber Attack
  54. A Wake-Up Call for Cyber Vigilance - Danger in the Threat Landscape for Everyone
  55. New Governor Resources
  56. Are teachers using AI? 83% say its a time-saver
  57. DfE Digital Standards - narrowing the digital divide
  58. Arbor AI - On By Default
  59. DfE Guidance: Choosing a new MIS
  60. Short Guide to AI Video
  61. Safer Internet Day, Cyber Security & Data Protection
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  63. The Multiple Dimensions of Supplier Due Diligence
  64. School shares sensitive pupil information as part of an FOI response
  65. Blacon High School Cyber Attack
  66. WhatsApp and FOI's: ICO Warnings
  67. New AI Guidance from the DfE
  68. What the proposed Government legislative proposal around cyber crime means
  69. DfE update to record keeping and management
  70. Update to data sharing for school immunisation programmes
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  72. The role of governors in cyber security and data protection
  73. Navigating Privacy at the End of Term , Special Occasions and End of Year
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  75. Safeguarding Identity in Microsoft 365: Protecting the UK Education Sector Against Cyber Threats
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  80. Calling all IT leads in schools and mult academy trusts!
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  82. School hit by Cyber Attack
  83. DfE Digital Standards for Schools and Colleges Tracker
  84. Schools and Trusts Best Practice Area
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  86. ICO Reprimands a School
  87. Out of date technology
  88. Data Retention and the Pupil File
  89. Have you assigned your SLT Digital Lead yet?
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  92. Cyber attack on a school during half term
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  94. Cyber attack on a Trust; the aftermath
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  96. DfE Dealing with Subject Access Requests (SARs) Guidance
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  103. Free Cyber help, advice and training with the Cyber Resilience Centres
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  108. Product Focus on Checklists : Bring your own device
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  111. Major cyber-criminal gang Lockbit brought down by UK Law Enforcement
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  113. Safer Internet Day 2024
  114. Kent Councils Data Breach
  115. Free cyber training for staff
  116. DfE Digital Standards Update
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  118. School Focus: St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School | Brighton
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