Are Your Teachers Ready for AI, Privacy & Cyber Threats? Why Staff Training Can’t Wait

Schools already understand the important role that they play in preparing students for their future, by supporting their overall development to become capable, responsible and well-rounded members of society. They also understand the need to support and empower their staff through training, awareness and professional development to enable them to perform this role effectively. 

Due to growing risks around data privacy and cyber security, particularly due to the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, training, awareness and professional development on data privacy, cyber security and AI are now more important than ever. Having the appropriate level of literacy in this area helps to counter the increasing risks, ensure that schools remain safe places for students to learn, and supports staff by giving them the confidence and skills that they need to safely and effectively educate students for the future, where these risks are only set to emerge and grow. 

Training in this area is now no longer a tick-box exercise, to the point where we are now seeing laws emerge which specifically require training in these areas. For example, the EU AI Act requires schools to ensure a sufficient level of AI literacy of their staff. Even where laws aren’t specifically proscribing the need for training, most countries globally have data protection and privacy laws which schools are required to understand the requirements of, in order to avoid hefty fines and regulatory action, as well as the loss of trust in the school and the cost of operational time which comes from violations of them. Staff also need to understand the risks in these areas, because if they are not mitigated, at one end of the scale, the school is not ensuring that it is a safe space for students to learn in, and at the other end, they are not preparing them for the future, with the skills that they need to protect their privacy and use AI critically and effectively. 

Why is training on AI, Privacy and Cyber Security vital in schools?

With the aims of the school, and the various roles that staff play to achieve these, providing training for them on these subjects is imperative. The use of AI in schools is already present (and only set to increase). Schools already store and share large amounts of sensitive personal data (which is only set to increase with AI), and they need to keep this data safe and secure (especially as increased cyber threats are emerging). Training teachers and staff on these topics supports them in building their confidence, to enable them to support the school in achieving its aims, including to protect students. 

Artificial Intelligence 

AI is quickly becoming part of education and everyday life, as well as opportunities, it also comes with risks and challenges which schools need to navigate. Without proper understanding, it can be misused or underused. Training on AI helps to support staff to: 

• Enhance teaching and learning: AI tools (like adaptive learning platforms or AI-powered tutors) can personalise education and help meet diverse student needs. Training on AI ensures staff know how to use these tools effectively

• Prepare students for the future: Students will grow up in a world shaped by AI. Teachers trained in AI can guide them to use it safely, to understand its limits, and develop critical thinking on how to use it

• Promote ethical and responsible use: AI comes with risks like bias, misinformation, and over-reliance. Staff need training to recognise these issues and model safe, fair use for students

• Reduce fear and build confidence: Without training, AI can seem intimidating or be misused. Training empowers staff to see AI as a helpful tool, not a threat (which can lead to a resistance to use it)

• Strengthen school innovation: Schools that embrace AI thoughtfully can improve efficiency in administration, grading, and communication. Trained staff ensure the technology supports learning goals rather than distracting from them

Data Protection and Privacy 

Schools handle large amounts of sensitive and personal information every day, particularly about children. This includes in the context of admissions, safeguarding, lesson planning, medical needs, and communications with parents or guardians. Staff need to receive training and data protection and privacy so that they can: 

• Protect staff, students and families: Training helps to ensure that staff know how to handle the personal data the school processes responsibly, so that they can prevent misuse or accidental leaks 

• Comply with legal requirements: Global and local laws require schools to safeguard personal data, and can result in fines and regulatory action if schools do not. Training helps staff to understand their legal obligations and to avoid costly violations

• Prevent data breaches: Human error (like sending emails to the wrong recipient or mishandling files) is one of the biggest causes of data leaks. With training, staff can recognise risks and adopt safe practices for handling, storing, and sharing data

• Build trust with parents and communities: Families expect schools to protect their children’s privacy. Demonstrating strong data protection practices reassures parents that their trust is well-placed and training can help schools to do this

• Support Digital Learning Safely: As schools increasingly rely on AI, online platforms, apps, and cloud systems, privacy risks grow. Training helps staff choose and use digital tools responsibly, keeping student data secure
• Model respect for privacy: Teachers and staff set the standard for students. By respecting data privacy, they teach young people the importance of safeguarding their own personal information, but they need to understand how to do this in the evolving digital world 

Cyber Security

It’s important for school staff to receive training on cyber security because schools hold sensitive information, use digital tools daily, and face growing online threats. Training on cyber security helps staff and schools to: 

• Prevent cyber attacks: Phishing emails, ransomware, and hacking attempts increasingly target schools, who are lucrative targets for cyberattackers, due to the amount of sensitive children’s information that they hold. Trained staff are less likely to fall for scams and can recognise suspicious activity

• Ensure safe learning environments: Students rely on secure digital platforms for learning and If systems are compromised, classes, exams, or communication can be disrupted. Training helps to ensure that staff can prevent these, and respond to them effectively if they do happen 

• Comply with relevant cyber security laws, regulations and standards: As mentioned above, schools must follow various data protection regulations which also require schools to handle personal data securely. Training ensures staff understand their legal responsibilities, to avoid the negative impacts of not complying with them

• Model good digital citizenship: Teachers and staff set the example for students. By practicing safe online habits, they show students how to protect themselves in the digital world
• Reduce financial and reputational risks: A single cyberattack can cost schools large sums in recovery and damage trust with parents. Training minimises these risks by strengthening the first line of defense: the staff.

It is clear that there are many overlaps between the topics of AI, data protection and privacy, and cyber security when it comes to what schools need to consider to keep staff and students safe. It will also take a number of different teams to have the appropriate knowledge and expertise on them to work together to meet the requirements of each to protect the school community.

How can 9ine help? 

Given the importance of training on AI, data protection and privacy, and cyber Security for staff to protect both individuals and the school, the next important question for schools is how do we provide this training? 

Schools may not have the time or expertise to develop and deliver this training themselves, which is where 9ine are here to help! From on-demand, certified training aimed at different staff across the whole school, to certified monthly training aimed at those with more specific responsibilities, whatever your school’s needs, we have the solution. We also offer regular webinars on topics relating to AI, data privacy and cyber security and publish regular articles on our website like this one. We use our expertise to take the time and effort away from schools required to research, develop and deliver the training materials that schools need to keep them safe, secure and compliant. At 9ine we offer: 

• AI and Privacy Academy: This is our certified monthly training programme for risk professionals and education privacy teams. It equips Data Protection Officers (DPOs) or anyone else at your school responsible for data protection and privacy in handling data breaches, subject access requests, and international data transfers confidently. The new enrollment intake will commence in November 2025, and cover nine live sessions ending in April 2026. The program offers interactive sessions, group scenarios, and comprehensive resources to help educate your staff to prevent breaches where possible, but respond to them effectively if they occur. Contact us if you want to learn more.
• Tech Academy: The 2025/2026 Tech Academy is structured as a single stream, designed to provide a balance of core technical and operational skills relevant to all school Tech Teams. The programme includes 5 core modules and 3 optional modules, giving you flexibility to focus on the areas most important to your school. The delivery of the Tech Academy will be supported by the 9ine Platform - a SaaS tool that enables you to follow step-by-step instructions in implementing the topics for each module. Also as part of the Tech Academy experience, each participant school will be allocated a 9ine Technical Consultant for support. Contact us if you want to learn more. 
• Academy LMS: Enables schools to enrol individual staff members or entire groups in comprehensive, on-demand training courses, modules and assessments, featuring in-built quizzes and certificates. We have various pathways with courses across four levels (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Specialist). Our AI pathway fosters ethical and responsible AI use in school operations, covering introductory through to specialist topics like AI in safeguarding, cybersecurity, risk management and privacy. We also offer pathways in data protection and privacy and cyber security. Academy LMS helps to build confidence and competence across all staff roles and helps school leaders embed good governance, policy alignment, and digital safety practices. Contact us if you want to learn more.

9ine company overview

9ine equips schools to stay safe, secure and compliant. We give schools access to all the expertise they need to meet their technology, cyber, data privacy, governance, risk & compliance needs - in one simple to use platform. For additional information, please visit www.9ine.com or follow us on LinkedIn @9ine.