Teenager arrested in exam board cyber attack investigation

Police confirm 16-year-old boy has been arrested and bailed until later this year

Police confirm 16-year-old boy has been arrested and bailed until later this year

Police investigating exam board cyber attacks have arrested a 16-year-old boy. 

Earlier this term, FE Week revealed how Cambridgeshire Police were investigating a “data breach” involving exam boards Pearson and OCR

The boards had exam papers “extracted from their systems and sold online,” the force previously said. 

Police confirmed this week that a 16-year-old boy from Hertfordshire was arrested on July 4 on suspicion of theft, fraud by false representation and computer misuse. 

He has been released on bail until early October. 

Surrey Police is also investigating another allegation of fraud and computer misuse at England’s largest exam board, AQA.

No arrests have been made during its investigation, which is ongoing. 

The Joint Council for Qualifications – which represents exam boards – previously said that “every year, awarding organisations investigate potential breaches of security.

“When investigations are complete, sanctions, which may be severe, are taken against any individuals found to be involved.”

Latest education roles from

Principal

Principal

St John Fisher Catholic Primary School

Headteacher

Headteacher

Mowbray Education Trust

Headteacher

Headteacher

Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust

Headteacher

Headteacher

Cloughside College

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

Bett UK 2026: Learning without limits

Education is humanity’s greatest promise and our most urgent mission.

Tyler Palmer
Sponsored post

Confidence, curiosity, and connection: How colleges are building learners for life

Acting as the bridge between school and adulthood for many young people, colleges play a powerful role in shaping...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

A Decade of Impact: Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards Celebrate 10 Years of Inspiring Change at Landmark London Event

Friday 7th November 2025 - Over 700 guests gathered at the Hilton London Metropole for the 10th annual Multicultural...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

EPA reform: changes inevitable, but not unfamiliar

Change is coming and, as always with FE, it’s seemingly inevitable. I’ve spent over 20 years working in the sector....

Advertorial

More from this theme

Awarding

‘Good progress’ towards NCFE recovery after cyber incident

Apprenticeship end point assessments will resume early next week

Shane Chowen
Awarding

NCFE shuts down systems after ‘cyber incident’

T Level assessments can continue but apprenticeship EPAs have been cancelled

Shane Chowen
Apprenticeships, Awarding

‘We’re not diluting apprenticeships’: Skills England deputy hits back at assessment reform backlash

'It’s not about reducing competency. It’s not about dumbing down – you have my word on that.'

Billy Camden
Awarding

Interview: David Gallagher elected chair of FAB

NCFE chief outlines his priorities to help awarding bodies weather a storm of reform

Billy Camden

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

One comment