Cyber security, AI and People: Practical Risk Management for School Leaders

UK schools are facing a perfect storm of rising cyber threats, tighter regulatory expectations, and rapid developments in AI. Leaders know these issues matter — but limited capacity, growing complexity and varying levels of digital maturity can make confident oversight difficult.

This non‑technical, leadership‑focused course is designed specifically for trustees, governors, senior leaders, and oversight teams who want clarity on their role in digital governance.

This leadership-focused session can be delivered in various formats and as a closed session for MAT or cluster leadership teams. The course will run once sufficient interest is confirmed and we will contact you regarding your specific needs.

Learning Outcomes

You will also receive 2–3 practical take‑aways, including:

  • A cybersecurity or AI policy checklist
  • Key questions to ask third‑party IT and EdTech providers
  • An incident‑response plan starter kit
  • A digital risk‑register template
  • An AI adoption risk checklist
  • A simple, sector‑specific maturity framework for cyber and AI readiness

    Course Agenda

    The session demystifies cybersecurity and AI risk, focusing on the areas that matter most: people, policy and processes. You will explore practical questions such as:

  • What exactly am I responsible for?
  • What questions should I ask our IT, third‑party providers and EdTech vendors?
  • Where does my school or Trust sit in the cyber and AI maturity spectrum?
  • What does effective digital leadership look like today?

    Led by an AI and cybersecurity analyst researching digital resilience in UK schools, the course draws on recent interviews with Northeast MAT leaders and the latest guidance from the DfE and NCSC.

    The sessions will also unpack what the Cyber Security & Resilience Bill means in practice for education settings, and review real UK school incident cases to highlight key lessons.

      For more information on this course, please contact CPD@newcastle.ac.uk or enquire here

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