Are you meeting DfE cyber standards, without overspending?
Schools are being asked to do more with less, while cyber security expectations keep rising. We help you close the gaps and reach full compliance by 2030, practically, affordably, and in a way that's built for real school environments. Because cyber security shouldn't feel like another burden.
What's included in your free RAG report
- RAG status against every DfE cyber standard
- Clear visibility of gaps and risks, in plain English
- A 3-year roadmap to full DfE alignment
- Practical next steps, prioritised for your school
- No obligation, no technical jargon
Takes around 30 minutes. Free, with no obligation to become a Holker customer.
Get my free DfE assessment
In around 30 minutes, we'll give you a clear, RAG-rated view of where your school or trust stands against the DfE cyber standards.
- RAG status against every DfE standard
- What's working, what's missing, and where the risk sits
- A prioritised, plain-English action plan
What meeting DfE standards looks like day to day
Six areas the DfE standards focus on, and how we help schools cover each one without overcomplicating things.
Controlling access
Making sure only the right people can get in, with added protection like MFA.
Secure backups
So your data can be recovered quickly if something goes wrong.
Device management
Keeping laptops, PCs and servers secure, patched and up to date.
Identifying weaknesses
Spotting risks early and dealing with them before they become incidents.
Safe internet use
Filtering and monitoring that keeps pupils and staff protected online.
Staff awareness
Helping everyone understand their role in keeping the school secure.
A clear, 3-year path to full DfE alignment
Compliance by 2030 doesn't happen in one project. Here's how we phase the work between now and full alignment: what Holker delivers, and what we'll need from your school or trust at each stage.
Holker delivers
- Free DfE RAG assessment & baseline report
- MFA rollout across staff accounts
- Tested, secure backup solution in place
- Patch management schedule established
School / trust
- Nominate a DfE compliance lead
- Review and approve the access control policy
- Confirm backup recovery testing dates
- Share an up-to-date device & server inventory
Holker delivers
- Network segmentation & firewall review
- Filtering and monitoring upgrade
- Cyber Essentials certification support
- Staff cyber awareness training programme
School / trust
- Sign off the segmented network design
- Approve the safeguarding filtering policy
- Complete the Cyber Essentials self-assessment
- Schedule staff training sessions
Holker delivers
- Full DfE standards re-assessment
- Incident response plan, built and tested
- Ongoing vulnerability scanning
- Annual compliance report for governors
School / trust
- Present the compliance report to governors
- Confirm incident response contacts
- Review budget for ongoing protection
- Sign off full DfE alignment
Every roadmap starts with your free DfE RAG assessment. Timelines and priorities are adjusted to your school's starting point and budget.
Why schools choose Holker
Education-first, always
We don't push tech for the sake of it. Everything is designed around your budget and what actually works in schools.
Aligned with DfE standards
From MFA to backups, we map directly to DfE guidance and keep pace as it evolves.
Clear, simple reporting
No long reports, just a straightforward view of where you stand and what to do next.
Flexible, sensible pricing
No over-engineering or unnecessary spend. Just what you need, when you need it.
"We don't understand cyber security. We are educationalists, not network managers. Holker are here to benefit and support us. They are specialists in all the areas that we need them to be specialists in."
Frequently asked questions
What is the DfE RAG report?
It's a Red-Amber-Green rated assessment of your school or trust against the DfE's Digital and Technology Standards. You get a clear picture of what's already in place, what needs attention, and a prioritised set of next steps, in plain English, no jargon.
Is the assessment really free, and is there any obligation?
Yes. The initial DfE RAG assessment is free and there's no obligation to become a Holker customer afterwards. It's a genuine starting point to help you understand where your school stands.
How long does the assessment take?
The initial conversation typically takes around 30 minutes. We'll then put together your RAG-rated report and talk you through it, along with a proposed roadmap if you'd like one.
What happens after I get my report?
You'll get a clear view of your gaps and risks, plus prioritised, practical next steps. If you'd like support putting them in place, we can build a phased roadmap, like the one above, tailored to your school's timeline and budget.
Do we need to already be a Holker customer to request this?
Not at all. The DfE RAG report is available to any UK school, academy or multi-academy trust, whether or not you currently work with us.
DfE alignment is part of a bigger picture
A few other areas that feed directly into the DfE standards and your wider IT strategy.
Find out where your school stands.
Get your free DfE RAG report and see exactly what your school needs to reach full alignment by 2030, with plain-English recommendations and no obligation.