School Data Breach in Tunbridge Wells

Officials at the Skinners' Kent Academy and Skinners' Kent Primary School confirm data breach.

19:00 23 June 2021

Skinners' Kent Academy and Skinners' Kent Primary School were forced to closed after hackers broke into servers,  stole data and encrypted pupil information. 

 

School officials have since confirmed the data breach and immediately urged parents to contact their banks to keep their billing information secure. They have also confirmed that Action Fraud and the National Cyber Security Centre are now involved and investigation is underway. The police and the trust's own data protection company are also carrying out inquiries about the attack. 

 

The statement on the trust's website advised parents: "It would be very wise to let your bank know that your bank details may have been taken."

 

A trust spokeswoman described the hackers as "sophisticated".

 

She added: "The trust is working incredibly hard to ensure that our students and pupils are back in our schools.....as soon as it is possible to do so."

 

On Monday, the staff decided to close the schools as they no longer hold vital information on the pupils, including emergency contact details.