ICYMI, NCSC’s CyberFirst Girls Competition is returning this 2023/2024 and registration’s still open.
The CyberFirst Girls Competition is run by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) annually. It aims to inspire girls interested in technology to pursue a career in tech, specifically in cyber security.
The need for skilled professionals in the cyber security industry is ever-growing. This kind of event not only fosters young talent, but also empowers young women in the field of tech and cyber security. Excitingly, every participant from the winning team will also get a brand-new laptop and have a chance to win prize money for their school!
What is the CyberFirst Girls Competition?
The CyberFirst Girls Competition is an annual event organised by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), with the primary goal of engaging and inspiring young girls to explore the world of cyber security.
The competition is part of the wider CyberFirst initiative, which aims to nurture the next generation of cyber security experts. It is open to girls aged 13-15 and offers an exciting platform for them to test their problem-solving skills, knowledge, and teamwork.
Teams are composed of up to four girls in Year 8 (England and Wales), S2 (Scotland) or Year 9 (Northern Ireland). Each team requires a guardian that’s over 18 years of age and appointed by the school.
The competition will include challenges related to cryptography and logic to artificial intelligence and networking. Each category consists of topics that are consistent with subjects within the Computer Science syllabus from both the National Curriculum and Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence.
Additionally, it will also include some advanced cyber topics that aren’t covered in traditional education but will aim to measure lateral thinking and additional cyber knowledge of the teams.
Dates to Remember
Registrations: Ongoing
Competition Open – 20 November 2023
Competition Closes – 29 November 2023
Celebratory event – TBC
Awards To Be Given
Top Scoring state newcomer – Highest scoring state school entering the competition for the first time
Most team entries (three categories: state school, state selective school and independent school)
School with most teams entered (each team must have solved at least 10 challenges)
Top-scoring team – Highest scoring team
Top-scoring CyberFirst school – CyberFirst school with the highest collective score
Top-scoring returning school – Highest scoring school that has entered the competition previously
NCSC’s CyberFirst Girls Competition plays a crucial role in nurturing the cyber stars of tomorrow. However, it’s not just about preparing the next generation for a career in cyber security; it’s about inspiring them to become passionate and dedicated cyber security professionals who can help secure our digital world.
Registrations are still open, so join while you still can! Full details on NSCS’s website here.
