 Highland schools are taking significant steps toward strengthening digital skills and cyber security education, thanks to a regional initiative led by Darren Brown, Faculty Principal Teacher of IT at Inverness High School. Supported by DYW Inverness & Central Highland and Ginger Cat Cyber Security, Darren recently hosted an online information event designed to introduce schools to the CyberFirst Schools programme and demonstrate how accessible cyber education can be for every secondary school in the region.
Held on Monday 8th September, the virtual session brought together IT and digital staff from across Inverness and the Central Highlands. The event also featured insights from Colin Topping, founder of Ginger Cat Cyber Security and a CyberFirst Ambassador employer, who highlighted the growing demand for cyber‑skilled young people across Scotland. .  Achieving Bronze Accreditation and Progressing Toward Silver
Trinity Academy continues to strengthen its commitment to digital skills, industry engagement, and meaningful career pathways. The school’s achievement of Bronze CyberFirst School accreditation reflects a growing culture of cyber awareness and opportunity. As the school now works toward Silver accreditation, activities like the S2 Girls Cyber Skills session with the Hearts Innovation Centre and the Women in Cyber full day learning event delivered by the Scottish Government, in partnership with Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) are playing a vital role in deepening learner engagement and industry partnership.  Six S3 girls from Castlemilk High School took part in the See It Be It: Women and Girls in Cyber Conference at RBS Gogarburn in November 2025, gaining direct insight into Scotland’s cyber security sector and the women shaping its future. Their participation demonstrates how meaningful employer engagement can strengthen Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) outcomes, raise aspirations, and challenge gender imbalance in the cyber security sector.
Overview The conference, delivered by the Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland, brought together more than 200 pupils, teachers, and cyber professionals for a full day of panels, workshops, and hands‑on challenges. The six S3 girls attended with the school’s DYW co‑ordinator and Computing Science teacher, building on their earlier involvement in a cyber event that inspired them to launch a girls‑only coding club. |
