10 North East schools have been successful in their applications to join the NCSC Cyber First programme, joining another current 5 schools in the region.

Cyber North are the cyber security cluster for North East England. Through supporting the growth and development of cyber security in the region they enable the North East to operate competitively.

CyberNorth is working with the North East STEM Hub, delivered by RTC North to support NCSC’s delivery of the programme in the North East. The CyberFirst is a programme of opportunities to help young people explore their passion for tech by introducing them to the fast-paced world of cyber security.

The five schools currently on the programme include Carmel College, North East Futures UTC, Royal Grammar School, St Bedes Catholic School and 6th Form College, and Thorpe Academy. The 10 new schools set to join the current five include Cardinal Hume, James Calvert Spence College, Dame Allans, Acklam Grange, Dyke House, Bede Academy, Our Lady and St Bede, Kings Priory School, Durham School, and Sandhill View.

The NCSC aims to recognise those schools and colleges whose approach to cyber and cyber security education is excellent. Schools and colleges that achieve this recognition can expect to be:

• Formally recognised and promoted by the National Cyber Security Centre
• Provided with opportunities to engage with local and national companies seeking to invest time, expertise and resources in schools and colleges
• Provided with opportunities to engage with universities seeking to invest time, expertise and resources in local schools and colleges
• A focal point for other CyberFirst activities
• Provided with an opportunity to be a part of CISSE UK

Successful applicants receive NCSC recognition via their CyberFirst Award status as either Bronze, Silver or Gold. Becoming a CyberFirst School means becoming a part of the growing national CyberFirst education eco-system.

Benjamin McIvor, Teacher of Computer Science at Kings Priory School, comments:

“We are thrilled Kings Priory School has been accredited with the prestigious Cyber First Schools Gold Award. This remarkable achievement highlights our unwavering commitment to equipping our pupils with essential skills and knowledge to excel in the digital and cyber age, empowering our pupils to navigate the complexities of the digital world with confidence.”

CyberFirst covers a broad range of activities: a comprehensive bursary scheme to financially support undergraduates through university and a degree apprenticeship scheme; a girls’ only competition, thousands of free places on CyberFirst courses at UK universities and colleges and our new initiative CyberFirst Schools and Colleges. Each activity is designed to seek out diverse people with potential, offering the support, skills, experience, and exposure needed to be the future first line of defence in our CyberFirst world.

Find out more about the Cyber First programme here