Lykke Education15%
growth identified in previously untapped catchment areas
Recent headlines around the OBR budget leak suggested that WordPress was to blame. Some vendors even used the story to imply that schools should abandon open platforms in favour of proprietary CMS systems.
The truth is far more straightforward. WordPress did not cause the leak. Incorrect configuration did. Files were placed in a publicly accessible directory and bypassed normal publishing safeguards. That mistake could have happened on almost any web platform.
For schools evaluating long-term website strategy, this distinction matters. WordPress remains one of the most secure, flexible and sustainable systems available to the education sector. What happened at the OBR was not a platform failure but a workflow failure. Schools deserve clarity, not fear.
The OBR used a plugin without configuring its publishing settings and uploaded sensitive files into a location that was never access controlled. WordPress already includes:
None of these were used. Calling this a WordPress failure is like leaving exam papers on a table in a corridor and blaming the table.
For independent schools, the takeaway is clear. Security depends on process, roles and governance. WordPress supports all of these when implemented properly.
Education website providers increasingly market their own custom CMS systems. They promote simplicity and security but rarely highlight the long-term drawbacks. Proprietary systems often mean
Schools are encouraged to see these systems as safer, yet they concentrate all risk in a single place. WordPress avoids that dependency. It is open, portable and supported by tens of thousands of developers worldwide.
WordPress remains unrivalled for long-term school website planning. It is continually improved, globally audited, highly extensible and future ready. Independent schools benefit from:
Portability
A WordPress site can move between suppliers without redevelopment. Themes can be refreshed. Hosting can be updated. Content remains yours.
Flexibility
Adapting to new admissions processes, curriculum changes or campaign strategy is simple. Proprietary systems often require additional development or may not support new functionality at all.
Cost efficiency
Schools are not tied to a single provider or locked into multi-year licences.
Integrations
WordPress already connects with CRM platforms, calendar systems, payment portals, event systems, safeguarding workflows and digital prospectus tools.
This adaptability is essential for schools whose digital requirements shift year after year.
Schools often only discover the limits of closed platforms when something important changes. Common issues include:
WordPress avoids all of these constraints. Schools keep ownership, control and future-proofing.
Schools regularly handle sensitive digital content, including admissions forms, exam information, safeguarding documentation and leadership communications. WordPress supports secure processes for all of these. Where issues arise, they typically relate to:
This is why choosing the right implementation partner is essential. Governance and configuration protect your website, not restrictive technology.
One criticism raised during the OBR incident concerned plugins. In reality, plugins are only insecure when unmanaged. A school website built by a skilled team uses reputable, well supported plugins with ongoing patching. WordPress has standardised update notifications, version control and rollback options that reduce risk significantly.
Changing suppliers is also simpler with WordPress. Schools can retain control of their website, codebase and hosting. Proprietary systems do not allow this freedom, which is why supplier transitions often require rebuilding the entire site.
School websites now serve multiple functions including marketing, admissions, compliance, communication and reporting. These needs will continue to expand. WordPress supports this evolution without forcing schools into expensive replacements every three to five years.
Because it is modular, integrations for email marketing, event bookings, data capture, analytics, PPC tracking and SEO improvements can be added without affecting the core platform.
The OBR leak was not caused by WordPress. It was caused by the way the system was used. WordPress remains one of the most secure, audited and capable CMS platforms available. Independent schools should not feel pressured into systems that remove ownership or flexibility. The safest website is not the one with the tightest restrictions. It is the one that is implemented correctly, maintained well and designed to evolve with the needs of the school.
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