Redgate Y6 Tech Girls Visit Westminister

Last month four girls from Year 6 in Redgate Community Primary School travelled to London, to Portcullis House at Westminster, to showcase their Cyber Security knowledge to MPs as part of their Tech Future Girls Club.

Redgate were invited to attend a parliamentary showcase by Hewlett Packard Enterprise, sponsors of the club. After Prime Minister's Questions, MPs were invited to go and meet girls from ten schools from across the country to talk about Cyber Security.

Nicky Morgan, Secretary of State for Education, spoke to the girls about the importance of increasing the number of women working in IT and the breadth of jobs available. She encouraged them to continue developing their IT skills as they progress through their education.

Bill Esterson, MP for Sefton, called in and the girls enthusiastically and articulately talked about their ideas for an app and tested Bill on his Cyber Security knowledge.

He is quoted as saying; “The girls did their school proud, and certainly put me through my paces with their IT skills. Computer and programme knowledge is becoming increasingly important in our world, and it is vital that such skills are not seen as gender specific."

He went on to add; “I applaud the four students from Redgate for their expertise; and encourage other schools in the constituency to get involved.”

A spokesperson from the school said "It was a privilege for Redgate to be invited to the event and our pupils were wonderful ambassadors for our school - well done girls. I am sure they will be eager to write a blog post to tell everyone about their trip, including the special present that they were given by Hewlett-Packard Enterprise".

Judith Hardisty, a governor of the school, who helps run the club, said: “The girls were delighted to have gone to Parliament and to have met all the MP’s. They were pleased their MP Bill showed such an interest in what they had been learning – they were still buzzing about their trip a few days later when I saw them at the club! They were certainly inspired by their trip.”

The programme, which is run by the Tech Partnership, is free to all schools in England and Wales. If any schools are interested in starting up their own Tech Future Girls Club they can learn more at www.techfuturegirls.com