WIREDGOV

CyberFirst Trailblazers and Adventurers event saw schoolchildren from across London at the NCSC.

More than 80 schoolchildren from across London have been learning about the world of cyber at an interactive event hosted by the National Cyber Security Centre.

The CyberFirst event saw tech-oriented youngsters, aged between 12 and 14, invited into the NCSC’s headquarters to learn more about security techniques and technology, and understand how skills in this area can lead to career opportunities in the future.

Students got stuck into a series of interactive sessions on topics ranging from website customisation and use of big data to digital forensics, cryptography and the technology used in 3D printers.

Pupils from over 61 schools across London took part in the day, which was split into two sessions that were individually tailored to children in Year 8 and in Year 9. The morning session was geared towards younger pupils, and showcased the varied opportunities that are on offer through understanding how different technology works.

The afternoon session was tailored to children in Year 9 - who are soon to select their GCSE choices - and gave them an opportunity to see the variety of jobs and career paths that studying computer science could attract in the future.

The event is part of a series of NCSC’s CyberFirst courses which are designed for 12 to 18-year-olds and aim to develop the UK’s next generation of cyber professionals through student bursaries, courses and competitions.

A full list of upcoming courses and dates can be found on our website.

Another major event in the CyberFirst Calendar is the Girls Competition, registration for which remains open until tomorrow.

The competition, which was created to boost female interest in cyber security, sees girls aged 12 and 13 competing to crack a series of over 100 online puzzles and challenges. This year’s competition is bigger than ever, with an online round, then 18 regional and national finals followed by a UK final.