Call for recognition as a CyberFirst School or College

Deadline
6/18/2021
Published
2/17/2021

Closing date for applications: 18th June 2021

Any secondary school or college within Northern Ireland, South West of England (Dorset, Cornwall Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset & Wiltshire), the North East of England (Durham, Tyne & Wear, Northumberland), Gloucestershire and Wales are eligible to apply for CyberFirst School/College recognition.

What is the CyberFirst Schools/Colleges scheme?

Since 2018, the NCSC has been piloting a Cyber Schools Hub (CSH) programme in Gloucestershire. The CSH has encouraged collaboration between local schools, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), national and local companies and organisations who share the aim of encouraging young people to engage with computer science and the application of cyber security in every day technology.

The initial CSH pilot involved a small number of schools in Gloucestershire and proved successful. In 2020 the pilot of the now CyberFirst Schools/Colleges scheme was extended within Gloucestershire and in Wales.

The NCSC is increasing the scale and ambition of the scheme to formally recognise more schools and colleges across the country who are committed to providing a structured approach to excellence in cyber security education. It has begun a phased regional rollout. The areas of the UK where schools and colleges can apply for recognition will be announced here.

What are the benefits to schools and colleges?

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; and
  • provided with an opportunity to be a part of CISSE UK.

How are schools and colleges recognised?

The National Cyber Security Centre will present one of 3 certificates which reflect the current stage of the school’s or college’s cyber security teaching, strategic ambition and development plans: CyberFirst Gold Award, CyberFirst Silver Award or CyberFirst Bronze Award. Find out more about who the current CyberFirst Schools and Colleges are here.

How do schools and colleges apply?

Completed applications are to be emailed to [email protected]. The closing date for the latest call for applications is 18th June 2021.

All application forms and the associated call documents detailing the requirements can be found in the Downloads section on the NCSC web page.