Higham Lane Faculty and Sixth Type has been pressured to shut its doorways to all college students and employees this week following a major cyber-attack that has paralyzed the establishment’s IT infrastructure.
The assault, confirmed by college management over the weekend, has taken down crucial digital providers, together with phone traces, e-mail servers, and the college’s central administration system.
Headteacher Michael Gannon communicated the pressing information to folks and carers in a sequence of emails despatched between January 3 and January 5, 2026. On account of the breach, the college remained closed on Monday, January 5, and can stay shuttered on Tuesday, January 6, whereas exterior forensic specialists work to include the incident.
In a communication despatched Monday morning, Mr. Gannon described the closure as a “troublesome resolution” made following strict recommendation from exterior cybersecurity specialists.
The college has engaged a Cyber Incident Response Workforce from the Division for Training (DfE) and IT specialists from the Central England Academy Belief to analyze the scope of the breach and restore system integrity.
“Do Not Log In” Warning Issued
In a transfer indicating the severity of the community compromise, the college has issued a strict directive concerning digital entry. College students and employees have been explicitly instructed to not log into any college methods, together with Google Classroom and SharePoint, till additional discover.
“As a matter of precaution, we’re requesting that college students don’t log into any college methods,” the college acknowledged. Whereas reassurances have been provided to college students who might have already tried to log in, the administration emphasised {that a} whole cessation of community exercise is required to make sure “most security whereas investigations proceed.”
The administration acknowledged the potential authorized implications of the assault. In correspondence dated January 3, the college famous its authorized obligation to report any recognized knowledge breaches to the Info Commissioner’s Workplace (ICO) inside 72 hours, in compliance with the Knowledge Safety Act 2018 and GDPR.
The college is presently collaborating with the Native Authority Knowledge Safety Officer to make sure all safeguarding obligations are met.
The timing of the assault is especially disruptive for college kids in 12 months 11 and 12 months 13, who’re approaching crucial GCSE and A-Degree examinations. The college has suggested these college students to make the most of the closure for impartial revision and consolidation of studying notes.
To mitigate the disruption to studying, the college has directed households to exterior academic sources that don’t require college credentials to entry.
The college emphasised that these exterior websites are protected to entry on private gadgets as they aren’t linked to the compromised college community. Moreover, the “Exams and Revision” part of the college’s public-facing web site has been confirmed protected to be used.
Whereas the preliminary goal was to reopen by Wednesday, January 7, college management has not but confirmed a return date. “Till we absolutely perceive the scope of the work required, I’m unable to substantiate this opening date at current,” Gannon wrote.
Mother and father have been suggested to observe the MyEd communication system and social media channels for updates, with an additional announcement anticipated on Tuesday morning concerning the plan to reopen the positioning in a “protected and managed method.”
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