A cyber security firm has launched a coding club for primary school children which will provide them with increased exposure to real-world applications of STEM
The coding club project aims to address the chronic shortage of cyber skills in the UK, as well as encourage more diversity within the industry with a specific focus on aiding social mobility, targeting the program at children from primary schools with higher pupil premium rates.
Red Helix aims to empower children by offering them a deeper understanding of the real-world applications of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). This approach enables young minds to unearth undiscovered passions within these industries.
The club is initially being run for Year 5 and 6 students from Elmhurst School in Aylesbury, an Academy of the Great Learners Trust, with the intent to further their interest in STEM from an early age and share the opportunities within STEM careers.
Enhancing the children’s education by accessing expert knowledge
The programme will run for six weeks over the summer term and see its participants create their own personalised infinity mirrors with a coded control system, activating different colours on the LED lights running along the outside of the mirror.
The idea behind the coding club initially came following a visit from Aylesbury’s then-Mayor, Cllr Tim Dixon and Cllr Sherrilyn Bateman. This led the team at Red Helix to approach Dawn Hanwell and Christine Sond, both teachers at Elmhurst and put together the program that would enhance the children’s education by accessing expert learnings from a company with decades of experience in the cyber security industry.
Providing children with new learning opportunities and additional insight to the practical applications of STEM can help unlock a new passion – and ultimately provide a long-term boost to the cyber security sector.
An early boost to the cyber security sector
“There is a pressing need for more cyber security skills in the UK, and for the required skills to be replenished, businesses need to take a different approach at appealing to young talent,” says Marion Stewart, CEO of Red Helix.
“As security providers, we have a responsibility to address this, not only now, but looking towards the future as well. Through the coding club, we aim to mitigate the impact of future skills shortages by planting a much-needed seed of inspiration at a younger age – with a focus on greater inclusion from a more diverse range of children and young people.
“Businesses need to take a different approach at appealing to young talent”
“Given the learning opportunities and insight into the practical applications of STEM, we aim to help them to discover a new passion within these industries and guide them on the path of how to begin their careers.”
Alongside the immediate educational potential of the coding club initiative, there are also aspirations to establish a long-term relationship between Red Helix and Elmhurst School and to inspire other IT and cyber security companies to do the same. With cybercrime consistently rising, the need for talent in the industry is growing.
Fostering a new generation of cyber-literate individuals
More partnerships between IT and cyber security organisations and educational institutes will help foster a new generation of cyber-literate individuals and make important steps towards bolstering the UK’s national cyber defences.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with Red Helix in launching this coding club,” adds Dawn Hanwell, STEM leader and teacher at Elmhurst School. “It is great to see a local company taking an interest in our children’s future and providing them with expert knowledge. We can’t wait to see our students getting involved, and we believe more schools would benefit from a partnership like this”.
The coding club is currently only available for the children of Elmhurst School – where Red Helix is based – but there are plans to bring the project to other schools, as well as develop a more advanced club for secondary schools.
It should be known that if there are any schools or organisations that wish to replicate this program in their local areas, Red Helix is more than happy to share further details of the program.
This piece was written and provided by Marion Stewart, CEO at Red Helix and Dawn Hanwell, STEM leader and teacher at Elmhurst School.
