The UK government is to a launch a £20million Cyber School Programme, with the aim to train 6,000 14-18 year olds by 2021.

Later on this year, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is to launch a cyber security training programme for school children.

The programme will consist of 6,000 secondary school children, who will be trained through online games, activities, extracurricular clubs and a pilot programme.

The government’s National Cyber Security Programme initiative is to find future online security experts.

The DCMS website said: “We want to help young people learn some of the skills needed to work in the cyber security profession.

‘Inspiring the talent of tomorrow’

“In the coming years, it will be your generation building, running and protecting the UK – you could be needed to help protect industries such as banking, transport and public services.”

Minister of State for Digital, Matt Hancock, said to Computer Weekly: “Our Cyber School Programme aims to inspire the talent of tomorrow and give thousands of the brightest young minds the chance to learn cutting-edge cyber security skills alongside their secondary school studies.

“I encourage all those with the aptitude, enthusiasm and passion for a cyber security career to register for what will be a challenging and rewarding scheme.”

James Lyne, Head of R&D at SANS, who is involved in the Cyber School Programme, added: “We believe it’s critical to introduce students to cyber security at a young age to make sure the UK is prepared for the future.”

DCMS also noted that it will be ‘our generation’ building, running and protecting the UK, so we could be needed to help protect industries such as banking, transport and public services.

Written by Leah Alger