We are thrilled to announce that Hereford Cathedral School has been awarded the CyberFirst Bronze Award, a prestigious recognition by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), under the authority of the UK’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. This prestigious accolade is awarded to only a select few schools, acknowledging excellence in promoting best practices in cybersecurity education and external engagement.
Headmaster Dr Gray remarked: “This award celebrates the school’s strategic approach to advancing educational development in computer science and cyber security, alongside our commitment to working with other schools to promote best practices in this increasingly important field.
“Whilst this is a prestigious award with rigorous standards needing to be met, it is just the first step on our journey towards the aim of achieving the CyberFirst Gold Award. We will maintain Bronze status for 18 months before being reassessed for Silver and then, ultimately, Gold.”
Pioneering Cybersecurity Education at Hereford Cathedral School
At Hereford Cathedral School, we are dedicated to equipping our students with the digital literacy and cybersecurity skills needed to thrive in the modern world. Since 2022, our digital strategy has seen pupils, starting from Year 6, working on personal devices and using digital tools like OneNote to enhance their learning.
As well as offering GCSE Computer Science which provides students with a strong foundation in coding, problem-solving, and digital security, other initiatives include:
- Clubs in coding, robotics, and VR that inspire and challenge students to explore new technologies.
- Our Cyberschools partnership events, where we engage with other schools to promote cybersecurity awareness and skills development.
- Virtual Reality (VR) training, such as the ‘Bodyswaps’ program, which focuses on developing essential soft skills as part of our HCS Diploma in Sixth Form.
- Workshops in cybersecurity and cryptography delivered in collaboration with the University of Wolverhampton.
Exciting New Opportunities in Cyber Competitions
As part of our CyberFirst journey, we are excited to participate in a range of national and regional cybersecurity competitions, which we are now invited to as a CyberFirst school. One of our upcoming highlights will be the creation of a ‘Girls Who Code’ team, which will compete in a prestigious coding competition in the coming weeks. These competitions offer our students valuable opportunities to develop hands-on skills, engage in real-world cybersecurity challenges, and represent the school on a national stage.
For more information on the CyberFirst Schools programme, please visit the National Cyber Security Centre.
