We are pleased to announce that today we have officially been awarded the National Cyber Security Centre CyberFirst Gold Award, which has been awarded because of our  commitment and dedication to delivering excellence in cyber security education. The Gold Award will be awarded for a period of 3 years.

Regional CyberFirst Girls Competition Winners
The award builds on last year’s success, when three of our Yr 8 students won the Southwest region finals in the CyberFirst Girls competition, which took place at the Defence Cyber Academy in Oxfordshire.

Students have taken part in activities such as using digital forensics to identify the first person who has contracted a disease and learnt how open-source intelligence can lead to finding out more information about this person. They have learnt the basics of how to customise a website and investigated how creative design, arts and technology work together and they had the chance to create their own advert sequence using stop motion.

CyberFirst Schools and Colleges, are promoted as Cyber leaders and the NCSC recognises those schools and colleges whose approach to cyber and cyber security education is excellent.

Mr Alec Waters, Ribston’s Interim Head Teacher said: “We are incredibly proud to be one of only a few local schools in Gloucestershire who have been achieved the CyberFirst Gold Award. Which is a demonstration of the outstanding work of our Computing Department and their commitment to ensuring that with the increasing use of technology our students have the skills and knowledge to understand the risks and how to protect themselves to cyber threats. At Ribston we are ensuring our students have the best employment opportunities for the future and opportunities to become tomorrow’s technological experts.”

Charlotte Smith, Cyber Skills Growth Lead and Coordinator from Cynam and representative for CyberFirst, said 'We are so proud to award Ribston Hall High School with this Cyberfirst for schools award. Ribston's continuous excellent work within computer science continues to highlight the importance digitech and cyber will play in everyone’s role in the future we are so pleased that the school have such a focus on this subject, preparing their students for a plethora of careers and opportunities.

Gloucestershire maintains its number one standing within the uk as a county where schools take seriously the impact of tech and cyber, and we look forward as the delivery partner of NCSC to continue our very strong relationship with Ribston,  its students and the senior leadership team.'

Caroline Parish one of the parents of a student involved in the Cyber programme said: "As a parent, I'm grateful for Ribston Hall's commitment to cyber security education. It's reassuring to know that my child is gaining essential skills to stay safe online. Through access to competitions such as CyberFirst, Ribston Hall is also encouraging her to look at a potential career that is in increasingly high demand."

Hamish Adamson another parent said: "I'm grateful for Ribston Hall's commitment to science, technology, and maths, including cyber security. It's great to know that my daughter is learning critical thinking and logical skills, that can help her online now and possibly with future jobs should she wish."

Building a Passion For technology and Cyber Security
CyberFirst was set up by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, to help young people explore their passion for technology.

CyberFirst began as a programme of opportunities to help young people explore their passion for technology. Today there are several initiatives, including bursaries for degree programmes, designed to seek out those with potential, offer the support, skills, experience and exposure needed to be the future first line of defence in a CyberFirst world.  

To find out more about CyberFirst you can visit: CyberFirst overview - NCSC.GOV.UK