Bristol school data breach: 320,000 files hit dark web
Hackers published records from 39 local schools after a September cyber-attack on the Trading with Schools platform.
By Isaac Medina ·
Parents and staff at 39 Bristol schools now face the risk of targeted scams after hackers published 320,000 stolen files on the dark web. Bristol City Council confirmed the data theft on November 4, marking a new phase in the fallout from a cyber-attack that occurred on September 21.
The incident targeted the Trading with Schools platform, where malicious software was installed on specific devices. Schools affected by the initial intrusion were disconnected from the shared network to contain the threat. Subsequent investigations revealed that a large volume of files had been extracted and are now available online.
Council officials state the breach likely impacts only the 39 schools that receive a higher level of IT service from the network. The other 49 schools, which use the system primarily for internet access, are believed to be unaffected. This distinction aims to narrow the scope of families who need to monitor their accounts closely.
Vik Verma, Director of Education and Skills at Bristol City Council, acknowledged the concern the news will cause for the school community. "We recognise that news of a data theft linked to this cyber-attack will be concerning for parents, carers, school staff and the wider school community," Verma said. He noted that determining exactly which individuals are affected is a key focus of the ongoing investigation.
The council is working with specialist cyber security advisers, Avon and Somerset Police, and the Regional Organised Crime Unit to review the published material. Officials are analyzing the files to establish the nature of the information involved and to identify which specific schools and people are compromised. Verma added that officers are working through a large volume of material as quickly as possible.
To protect residents from follow-up fraud, the council issued guidance shared directly with schools and families. The advice directs users to be cautious of unexpected emails, texts, and phone calls, even if they appear to come from trusted organizations. Users are told to avoid clicking on links or opening attachments in unexpected messages and to be wary of requests to reset passwords or verify account details.
Families are also advised to use strong, unique passwords for important accounts and to enable two-factor authentication where available. The council recommends monitoring online accounts and bank statements for unusual activity. Suspicious emails should be reported to report@phishing.gov.uk, while suspicious text messages should be forwarded to 7726.
The council said it will keep schools, parents, and carers updated as more information becomes available. Until the review is complete, officials cannot confirm the full list of affected schools or individuals. The investigation remains active as law enforcement partners work to understand the full impact of the incident.
