School Ransomware Attacks: How Victims Can Claim Compensation in the UK

In recent years, school ransomware attacks have surged across the UK, leaving educational institutions, staff, parents, and pupils exposed to serious data breaches.

Criminal gangs can encrypt critical systems and steal sensitive personal data — from pupil records and medical information to staff payroll details — then demand ransoms whilst threatening to publish the stolen information. When schools become victims of school ransomware attacks, the consequences go far beyond operational disruption; thousands of individuals can suffer distress, financial loss, and identity theft risks.

The good news? Under UK data protection law (UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018), affected individuals can be entitled to claim compensation, and The Data Breach Lawyers is here to help you do exactly that.

Understanding the Rise and Impact of School Ransomware Attacks

The education sector has become one of the prime targets for cybercriminals. According to some statistics and and numerous reported incidents, school ransomware attacks have increased significantly between 2021 and 2024. Multi-academy trusts, local authority schools, colleges, and even nurseries have all fallen victim.

Once inside the network, attackers can exfiltrate huge volumes of personal and special-category data before encrypting systems. Even when a ransom is paid (or insurance covers it), there may be no guarantee the criminals will delete the stolen information. Many schools later discover their data has been leaked on the dark web or sold to other fraudsters.

The human cost is significant:

• Pupils and parents suffer anxiety and distress
• Staff face risks of identity fraud and financial loss
• Special educational needs (SEN) records and safeguarding information become public

Victims do not have to accept this violation in silence.

Your Legal Right to Compensation

If your personal data — or your child’s — was compromised in one of the many school ransomware attacks, you may have a legal route to claim compensation, regardless of whether the school paid the ransom or not.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has repeatedly stated that organisations (including schools and trusts) must have “appropriate technical and organisational measures” in place. When basic protections such as multi-factor authentication, up-to-date patching, staff training, and proper backups are missing, the school or trust can be held liable for failing to protect your data.

Compensation can cover:

• Distress and anxiety (the most common award)
• Financial losses (e.g., fraudulent transactions or credit monitoring costs)
• Loss of privacy, especially for special-category data (health, ethnicity, religious beliefs, etc.)

Choose The Data Breach Lawyers for Your Claim

The Data Breach Lawyers has recovered millions of pounds in group action and individual compensation claims arising from ransomware incidents — including numerous school cases. We can also operate on a genuine No Win, No Fee basis, and our team specialises in UK data breach and GDPR compensation claims

If you or your child were affected by any school ransomware attack in the last six years, you could be entitled to thousands of pounds in compensation.

Contact The Data Breach Lawyers today for a completely free, no-obligation case review.

Call us free on 0800 634 7575 or complete our quick online form on our website.

Do not let the school or trust off the hook — hold them accountable and claim the compensation you deserve. Act now before time limits expire.