Highland Schools Embrace CyberFirst Through Inverness-Led Digital Initiative

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. 
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Introducing CyberFirst to Highland Schools 

CyberFirst is a UK Government–backed outreach and education initiative created to inspire young people from all backgrounds to explore future‑focused careers in areas such as cyber security, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, data, and software development. 

During the session, Darren guided teachers through: 

- the purpose and benefits of the CyberFirst Schools programme 
- the straightforward accreditation process 
- the wide range of free teaching resources available to support delivery 

He showcased materials suitable from S1 through to NPA Cyber Security Level 6, emphasising that CyberFirst is not just for computing departments. Business, IT, digital literacy and PSE teachers can all make use of the resources, making cyber education accessible even in schools without a dedicated computing specialist. 
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Addressing a Regional Challenge 

Across the Inverness and Central Highland education authority, there are only 10 computing teachers across 29 secondary schools. Despite this, the region has shown remarkable momentum: 
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- 7 schools have already signed up to become CyberFirst Schools 
- More schools are now accessing CyberFirst teaching materials
- Staff across multiple subject areas are embedding cyber content into lessons

This progress demonstrates how impactful the programme can be—even in areas with limited specialist staffing. 

Strengthening Industry Connections 

Through Ginger Cat Cyber Security’s involvement, schools have also gained new links to cyber employers across the region. As a CyberFirst Ambassador employer, Ginger Cat is helping schools connect classroom learning with real‑world industry insight, supporting talks, workshops and potential work‑related learning opportunities. 

A Growing Movement Across the Highlands 

The success of the online event has sparked growing interest in CyberFirst accreditation across the region. Schools are increasingly recognising the value of embedding cyber security and digital skills into their curriculum, helping young people prepare for Scotland’s rapidly evolving digital economy. 
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Darren Brown’s leadership, combined with support from DYW Inverness & Central Highland and Ginger Cat Cyber Security, has created a clear pathway for Highland schools to embrace the future of technology with confidence. ​