On Monday 12th May, our R14 Computer Science students enjoyed a fantastic day at the National Digital Exploitation Centre (NDEC) in Ebbw Vale, run by Thales. The visit offered pupils a valuable opportunity to explore the real-world applications of cyber security, an area directly linked to their GCSE course.

Throughout the day, students took part in a series of hands-on and thought-provoking activities, including:

• A talk on Pathways into Cyber, which gave insight into the variety of career options in this fast-growing field
• A fast-paced Cyber Escape Room, where teams put their problem-solving and logical thinking skills to the test;
• A Digital Forensics workshop, introducing students to investigative techniques used to trace cybercrime.
   

The trip was a great success, with students fully engaged in all sessions and gaining a clearer understanding of how the topics they study in the classroom translate into real-world challenges and opportunities. We are grateful to the team at NDEC for delivering such a well-organised and inspiring programme, and we look forward to building on this experience in future lessons.