A school targeted by cyber-criminals has declined to comment on whether the personal data of its pupils or their families was compromised.
Park View, in West Green Road, Tottenham, sent a letter to parents on November 3 saying it had been forced to close after a cyber-attack knocked all of its computers and phones offline.
It reopened on Tuesday, November 8.
The school said today (Friday, November 11), via Haringey Council’s press office, that it was “continuing to take the required steps to restore our IT systems in a responsible, safe and swift manner”.
This newspaper asked the school, through the council, whether any personal data had been accessed, lost or stolen.
It did not comment.
“Our carers/parents, teaching staff and wider school community can be assured that we’ve taken all the correct measures in response to this incident,” headteacher Andy Webster said in a statement.
“We remain grateful to them all for their patience, support and understanding as we work diligently to bring this matter to a successful conclusion as quickly and securely as we can.”
In a letter to parents on November 7, published on its social media pages, the school said it had reported the incident to police and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
It has since deleted that letter from its social media pages.
This newspaper asked the school, through the council, why it had called in the ICO.
The ICO’s guidance on reporting “personal data breaches” defines them as “a breach of security leading to the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure of, or access to, personal data”.
If such breaches occur, the data controller must refer them to the ICO within 72 hours.
The school declined to answer which of breach types it had reported.
The ICO also declined to answer the question, simply saying: “Park View School made us aware of an incident and we are assessing the information provided.”
The Metropolitan Police said officers had been assigned to investigate the cyber-attack, but no arrests have yet been made.
Cllr Zena Brabazon, Labour-run Haringey Council’s cabinet member for children, schools and families, said: “Park View staff acted quickly to mitigate the impact of this cyber attack and, with the council providing immediate and prompt support to them, I’m pleased that the school was able to reopen on Tuesday as planned.
“They can rely on our continued and unequivocal support while they return to normal school life.”
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