SCHOOL placements in Redcar and Cleveland are expected to be delayed following repercussions of a cyber-attack, despite "significant progress".
Secondary school places are normally confirmed by National Offer Day on March 2 but the council expect delays as it continues to rebuild systems following a cyber-attack, which took place on Saturday, February 8.
Cllr Mary Lanigan, Leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said: "We have built a new server and website, and mobilised a temporary call centre.
“However, it may be some time before our IT capabilities are fully restored which may mean frustration for the public in dealing with us administratively.
“As a result of the attack, there may be a short delay in us being able to confirm secondary school places. Our staff are working round the clock to allocate the places by the National Offer Day on March 2 but we will inform parents and carers on Friday, February 28, if there will be a short delay and when they can expect to receive them."
Cllr Lanigan assured parents that the allocation itself that parents and carers would have received, and will receive, will not be affected by any delay and that primary admissions on their respective National Offer Day, on April 16, will not be disrupted.
“Our absolute priority since the first day of the attack has been to protect our frontline services, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the most vulnerable people in our community, while rebuilding our IT systems so they can return to full functionality.
“Significant progress has been made. Our staff, working alongside support from the Government, continue to work tirelessly round the clock to minimise any disruption or delays."
"Frontline services" have continued as normal, and there is no evidence so far to suggest any personal information has been removed from our servers.
Residents were also thanked "for the resilience and patience they have shown", as well as council staff and "all of those who have responded to this complex and challenging situation".
Cllr Lanigan added: “We notified the relevant authorities of the attack swiftly and the investigation is being led by the National Crime Agency. We are working with the National Cyber Security Centre and the National Crime Agency, and I would like to thank their staff for all the assistance they have provided.
“As a council, we have always taken cyber security seriously, and we will continue to engage with the relevant authorities to ensure our systems are as secure as possible in the future.”
Redcar & Cleveland Council have previously been unable to comment on the attack due to an ongoing criminal investigation.
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