Students at a west Cumbrian school will work remotely until the end of term following an attempted cyber attack.

West Lakes Academy made the announcement yesterday after closing part of its IT systems as a security measure.

A spokesman for the academy said: "West Lakes Academy students will be moving to remote education with effect from Tuesday, December 14, until the end of term (Thursday, December 16) as a precaution following an attempted phishing e-mail attack.

Based on currently available information, we do not believe that there has been any data loss or any unauthorised access to our property or the security of our systems but we are taking security counter-measures that include the closure of part of our IT systems. As a result, and in accordance with our existing contingency plans, students will be required to move to remote education for the remainder of the term.

"In the meantime, we are working to ensure that our network remains secure and to prepare for everyone’s return in January 2022."

A letter sent out to parents and students said staff had been alerted to an attempted phishing email attack on Friday morning.

It said that following the initial investigation carried out by The Trust, a number of temporary precautionary measures were being brought in as a result of the incident.

These include remote education and all West Lakes Academy email addresses being disabled from 3.30pm yesterday. Students will also need to hand in their iPads in January for the school to re-set them.