FINAL GPSJ Summer edition 2024 ONLINE VERSION.2pdf - Flipbook - Page 28
GPSJ
EDUCATION & LEARNING
New Era of Cyber Security for Schools: LGfL’s
‘Free’ Elevate Toolkit Takes Aim
Demystifying Security, Meeting
New Standards
Gareth Jelley, Product
Security Manager, LGfL-The
National Grid for Learning
Schools are facing a growing
challenge: protecting themselves
in the ever-evolving landscape
of cyber threats. To address
this, edtech charity LGfL -The
National Grid for Learning has
developed the Elevate Cyber
Security Toolkit for Schools
(elevate.lgfl.net), which is
available free to all schools.
This comprehensive resource
empowers schools to assess
their current security posture –
its overall state of cybersecurity
readiness - and implement
robust measures to safeguard
their IT systems and data.
The Elevate Toolkit is designed with
clarity in mind. Recognizing that
cyber security can be a complex
area, the resources are presented
in understandable language. This
is particularly beneficial for teachers
who may not have specialized
cybersecurity knowledge.
The toolkit’s development is directly
linked to the latest Department for
Education (DfE) Cyber Security
Standards for Schools and Colleges.
Following a joint audit by the National
Centre for Cyber Security (NCSC)
and LGfL in 2019, a critical need
was identified: strengthening the
governance of cyber security within
schools. The audit revealed that
while many schools had technical
safeguards in place, essential
documentation and planning were
often lacking. Notably, less than
half of the surveyed schools had
documented their core IT services
or possessed a proper contingency
plan for cyberattacks.
Bridging the Gaps: Straightforward
Templates for Action
The Elevate Toolkit directly addresses
these gaps by providing schools with
readily available templates. These
templates can be easily customized
to fit a school’s specific needs. This
user-friendly approach empowers
schools to quickly establish key
documents like risk registers and
contingency plans, significantly
improving their cyber security
governance.
Emphasis on Continuous
Improvement: Audits and
Regular Checks
The DfE’s recently updated Cyber
Security Standards place greater
emphasis on regular audits and
security checks. In response, LGfL
developed a self-led cyber security
audit template. This comprehensive
template encompasses all areas
highlighted within the standards,
offering a structured approach for
schools to evaluate their security
posture.
By using the audit template,
schools can gain a clear
understanding of their strengths
and weaknesses. This valuable
information can then be used to
update their risk register and prioritize
areas that require further attention
Furthermore, the toolkit provides
additional resources, such as termly
cyber security checks, to ensure
ongoing vigilance and continuous
improvement in a school’s cyber
security posture.
The Elevate Cyber Security Toolkit
positions schools as proactive players
in the fight against cyber threats. By
providing user-friendly resources and
aligning with the latest DfE standards,
the toolkit empowers schools to
create a safer and more secure
learning environment for their students
and staff.
Empowering and safeguarding young people
from radicalisation
Act Early Stories
(actearlystories.lgfl.net)
- a powerful pack of free
educational activities and
lessons for schools and youth
centres designed to raise
awareness of extremism, spark
discussion, and promote critical
thinking in young people - has
been launched by the charity
LGfL-The National Grid for
Learning.
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Created by LGfL’s safeguarding
team, the resources are designed
to complement Counter Terrorism
Policing’s ACTEarly Campaign.
The original ACTEarly Campaign
was launched after worrying trends
showed that record numbers of
young people began showing
up in their casework, indicating a
clear need for teachers, parents,
friends and family to do more to
protect the young people in their
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR JOURNAL SUMMER 2024
care from extremism. In the year
ending 31 March 2023, there were
6,817 referrals to Prevent. This is an
increase of 6.4% compared to the
previous year (6,406), and the third
highest number of referrals since the
first period reported on (2015/16).
The increase is predominately driven
by an increase in referrals from the
Education, Community and Police
Based on the real-life stories of
three young people whose lives have
been affected by extremism, the
Act Early Stories resource explores
extreme right-wing narratives and
religious extremism, and includes
powerful videos, ready to use
session slides and guidance notes to
encourage discussions around peer
pressure, grooming and exploitation.
All are designed to be used by
experienced practitioners as well
as those who may not have much
knowledge of the issues raised.
The aim is to empower teachers
and other practitioners to speak to
young people about extremism in
different educational settings.
Session One features Micheal,
who lost his older brother to religious
extremism after he joined a terrorist
group. It explores vulnerability
and encourages young people to
recognise how extremists exploit
issues around identity for their
own agenda, through group-led
discussion and reflection.
Session Two focuses on John,
who was radicalised by the extreme
right wing and includes a letter
to his younger self. Students are
encouraged to unpick the building
blocks of extremism, to recognise
the consequences of not challenging
extremist behaviour and where to
seek support and help.
Session Three features a dramabased video and literacy activity about
the indicators of exploitation, to help
students understand peer pressure
and the grooming process. This
provokes discussions around what
extreme views are, the implications
these can have, why some people
are more likely to be influenced
than others, why it may not always
be easy to leave and how to seek
support.