Ransomware Attack Forces Blacon High School Closure

Blacon High School in Cheshire has temporarily closed due to a ransomware attack that compromised its IT systems. The incident, which occurred on January 17, has left the school unable to operate normally, prompting headteacher Rachel Hudson to announce the closure for at least two days while cybersecurity experts investigate. Teachers are utilizing Google Classroom to assign work to students during the closure, though they can still collect lunch from the school. Hudson indicated that the closure could extend beyond the initial two days, depending on the findings of the investigation. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which follows a similar incident affecting Gateshead Council just days earlier. The school has set up a temporary contact number for urgent communications as traditional phone lines are down due to the breach.