Network Shield pilot: 270+ students, real results

Network Shield is inspiring the next generation of cyber defenders - and we have the data to prove it.

We’re thrilled to share feedback from over 270 students across Guildford County School and George Abbot School who took part in our Network Shield pilot, a gamified experience that introduces young people to the world of cybersecurity. The pilot was designed to give students a hands-on, in-classroom virtual work experience and to test whether gamified learning could shift attitudes and confidence around cybersecurity careers.

The headline results are striking:

76% of students said their understanding of cybersecurity improved after playing the game.

75% felt they now better understand what network security professionals actually do day-to-day.

71% believe that playing more career games like this would make them more confident about future career choices.

57% said they’re now open to considering a career in cybersecurity.

For a single session of gameplay, these numbers tell a powerful story. They suggest that gamified virtual work experience can do something traditional careers education often struggles to: shift perception, build confidence, and open up genuinely new career pathways for students who might never have seen themselves in STEM careers before.

Students told us they loved learning through gameplay, solving challenges, and “putting themselves in others’ shoes.” Their feedback also gave us brilliant ideas for the next phase, from richer graphics and improved tutorials to more variety in gameplay: all of which will shape the next release of Network Shield.

For careers leaders and heads of computer science, the implications are practical. Network Shield maps directly to Gatsby Benchmarks 4, 5, and 7 and slots into existing careers programmes with minimal lift. For employer partners in cybersecurity and digital, it offers a scalable way to inspire and reach future talent at the moment career thinking begins.