Bournside Awarded CyberFirst Gold Status for Excellence in Cyber Education
20 May
Cheltenham Bournside School has been awarded the CyberFirst Gold Award by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), recognising our continued commitment to cyber education and digital literacy, empowering students with the skills needed for success in an increasingly technology-driven world.
The CyberFirst Schools programme, backed by the NCSC and GCHQ, recognises schools that provide excellent cyber and computing education. Bournside’s award reflects years of dedicated development in its curriculum, facilities, and enrichment activities, having previously achieved the CyberFirst Silver award in 2022.
We are thrilled to have been recognised with the CyberFirst Gold Award, an award we will now hold for three years. We are committed to delivering an innovative, inclusive, and future-focused computing curriculum that prepares young people for digital life and careers in cyber and this award rightly celebrates that!
- Mr H Hunt, Head of Computing
A Curriculum Built for the Future
At the heart of Bournside’s success is a broad, balanced, and ambitious computing curriculum. Students from Key Stage 3 through to Key Stage 5 are immersed in key topics such as data protection, safe online practices, cyber-security threats, ethical hacking, and digital literacy. Our structured programme ensures progression from foundational computational thinking to advanced programming and IT systems, with qualifications including GCSE Computer Science, Creative iMedia, A-Level Computer Science, and the BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate in IT.
This robust academic foundation is further enriched by hands-on, real-world experiences, encouraging students not only to develop technical skills but also creativity, resilience, and a strong ethical understanding of technology’s societal impact.
Facilities That Enable Learning
We are well-equipped to support our students in digital and cyber training. With six dedicated computing classrooms and access to over 400 PCs, along with 210 iPads and 140 laptops, students benefit from extensive access to digital tools across all curriculum areas - from Art and Music to Media and Design Technology.
Real-World Engagement and Enrichment
Beyond the classroom, Bournside students engage in a wide array of enrichment and cocurricular opportunities that connect learning with the cyber industry.
Highlights include:
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A Year 7 Cyber Day introducing students to safe digital practices.
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Participation in the Empower Cyber Event for Year 9 students, tackling data analysis, AI, and programming challenges with Southwest employers.
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Attendance at the Unlock Cyber Careers event at UWE Bristol, where Year 12 students explored opportunities in the cyber industry.
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A strong performance in the CyberFirst Girls Competition, with a Year 8 team finishing 8th in the regional heat.
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Onsite workshops delivered by industry leaders such as FPGA and L3Harris Technologies, and a virtual session with Microsoft which led to Level 4 apprenticeship interviews for some Sixth Form students.
Championing Inclusion and Inspiring Girls in Cyber
Work continues by the whole team to actively address the gender gap in computing. Since 2022, we have intensified efforts to inspire more girls to take up computing at Key Stage 4 and beyond. Approaches include inviting female role models in tech to speak at events, creating supportive girls-only coding clubs, and participating in events like Girls in Tech at UWE.
These initiatives are paying off: over 20% of applicants for computing courses starting in September 2025 are female.
"We are exceptionally proud of the progress we've made in promoting computing to all students, especially girls. But we recognise there’s still more to do. The leadership team at Bournside are focused on breaking stereotypes and showing all of students, regardless of gender or background, the incredible range of careers the digital world can offer.
- Mr Waters, Deputy Headteacher (Culture)
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate our place as a leader in cyber education, we remain focused on our mission: to inspire lives through learning and to prepare all students to navigate the digital age with confidence, competence, and integrity.
Congratulations to everyone involved!