Helston Becomes the First Host of Cyber Investigators Event in Cornwall with GCHQ Support

On Monday, March 11th, Helston Community College became the epicentre for Cornwall’s inaugural Cyber Investigators event, supported by GCHQ.

This pioneering event drew attention to the critical role of cyber security in our increasingly digital lives, impacting everything from music streaming to online banking.

The National Cyber Security Centre, backed by GCHQ, spearheaded this event to demystify cyber security for a younger audience, emphasising its importance through an interactive and engaging format. A select group of Year 8/9 students from Helston, along with peers from four neighbouring secondary schools, embraced the role of cyber detectives for a day. They were tasked with a fictional scenario involving Sirius Cyberworks, a fictitious app company, where they had to uncover the mystery behind a network breach and the leak of a flagship app.

The day-long event was packed with practical activities, challenging the students to solve puzzles, crack codes, and work together to navigate through the complexities of cyber security. The involvement of industry professionals and guest speakers added depth to the experience, offering insights into the real-world applications and significance of cyber security skills.

Highlighting the success and talent present at Helston, the local teams impressively claimed second and third places among ten competing teams. This achievement not only showcased the students’ newfound skills but also emphasised Helston’s potential as a nurturing ground for future cyber security experts.

The Cyber Investigators event in Cornwall has set a precedent, marking a pivotal moment in the effort to engage young minds with the critical field of cyber security. The enthusiasm and exemplary conduct of the participating students—Dylan, Lewis, Merryn, Sophie, Willow, Austin, Frankie, Jayden, Isabel, and Florence—underscore the event’s positive impact and the importance of such opportunities in cultivating the next wave of specialists in the cyber domain.