A record number of school girls from across the UK took part in the 2024/25 CyberFirst Girls Competition, which is run by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

Schoolgirls from across the UK received awards for their exceptional cybersecurity skills at a ceremony on International Women’s Day.

With the competition in its eight year, the girls competed in 12 regional finals and a catergory for independent schools. They tackled a series of cybersecurity challenges, including decrypting messages, cracking code, and solving coding puzzles.

A record 4,159 teams from more than 800 schools, comprising a total of 14,500 girls, signed up for the NCSC competition, which aims to encourage girls aged 12 and 13 to consider pursuing an interest in technology and a career in cyber.

The 13 regional winners and special award winners were recognised at a celebration day and gala prize-winning dinner at the iconic Jodrell Bank astronomical research centre in Cheshire.

Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre in Birmingham won £4,000 as they were crowned ‘Top scoring state newcomer’. Other special competition awards included The Henrietta Barnett School who were recognised as the ‘Top scoring team’.

The Competition, which concluded in December, aims to encourage girls to explore the world of cyber and technology, helping to address the lack of diversity in the UK cyber workforce, where women currently make up just 17% of employees.

NCSC deputy director for cyber growth, Chris Ensor, said:  “A huge congratulations to all the 13 teams for winning their respective regional finals in this year’s CyberFirst Girls Competition and to all the award winners.

“I’d like to extend my gratitude to the teachers who’ve encouraged and inspired their students to take part in the Competition, to our sponsors whose support makes this event possible, and to the girls who demonstrated admirable skills, determination, and teamwork.

“It seems apt on International Women’s Day to point out the UK’s cyber security industry needs more female representation, and I hope for many of the girls this marks the beginning of their interest in technology.”

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The CyberFirst Girls Competition is the NCSC’s flagship cyber security contest for schools, which opens annually to girls in Year 8 in England and Wales, S2 in Scotland, and Year 9 in Northern Ireland.

Since the Competition’s launch in 2017, around 85,000 girls have taken part.

The NCSC’s CyberFirst programme offers a range of free challenges aimed at offering young people the skills, opportunities and exposure they need to thrive in cyber security.

This includes free courses for boys and girls, which aim to introduce pupils aged 14 to 17 to the cyber threat landscape and to develop their digital and problem-solving skills.