Students at Nuneaton school urged not to log into school systems after cyber attack
Higham Lane School has confirmed it will remain closed tomorrow (January 6)
Last updated 5th Jan 2026
Students at a Nuneaton school are being asked not to log into any school systems as investigations into a cyber attack continue.
Higham Lane School was forced to remain closed today (January 5) after the Christmas break and has now confirmed it will also be shut tomorrow (January 6).
The attack has taken down its IT systems, including telephones, emails, servers, and the school’s management system.
The school said the decision to remain closed was taken after advice from "external experts" and added that it is working with "external agencies, including a Cyber Incident Response Team from the Department for Education" to investigate and resolve the issue.
Both students and staff are being advised not to access any school systems until further notice.
The school said its to "ensure maximum safety while investigations continue."
In an email to parents and carers, Headteacher Michael Gannon said the school will provide updates as soon as further information becomes available from specialists.
For the time being, the school recommends students focus on independent work.
Year 11 and Year 13 students are being encouraged to consolidate their notes and revise for upcoming examinations, while other year groups can make use of external online resources such as BBC Bitesize and Oak National Academy, which are safe for access outside school systems.
Central England Academy Trust which runs the school said in a statement:
"Central England Academy Trust can confirm that Higham Lane School is managing a cyber security incident that has affected access to parts of the school’s IT systems.
"Upon becoming aware of the incident, the school promptly implemented its incident response protocols, including securing systems and engaging independent cyber security specialists to investigate.
"Relevant authorities have been notified, and the school is cooperating fully with all appropriate agencies.
"As a precautionary measure, the school is currently closed while investigations and remediation activities are undertaken.
"At this stage, the school is expected to remain closed until at least Wednesday, and this will be reviewed as more information becomes available. An update will be provided to families tomorrow, and it would be inappropriate to speculate further at this time.
"The school takes the privacy and security of its community seriously and is taking all reasonable steps to manage the incident and restore systems safely and as quickly as possible.
"As this matter remains under investigation, no further comment can be made at this time.