“Five new cyber-focused sixth forms will train pupils in defence and emerging tech from 2026”

The Ministry of Defence will invest £182 million in new “cyber sixth forms” to prepare young people for careers in national security, with the first five institutions set to open next year.

The initiative, unveiled ahead of the government’s new defence industrial strategy, will create specialist schools where pupils can study subjects including cyber warfare, artificial intelligence and advanced military technologies alongside traditional A-levels. The aim is to strengthen recruitment pipelines into the armed forces and wider defence sector at a time of growing global threats.

Teenagers who enrol will receive training designed to equip them with skills in areas such as digital forensics, programming, systems security and countering hostile cyber activity. Officials say the move is intended to give the UK a long-term advantage in developing homegrown expertise in emerging technologies that are reshaping modern warfare.

The five new schools will be spread across the country, with locations to be announced in the coming months. Each institution will operate in partnership with defence companies, universities and the armed forces, ensuring pupils have direct exposure to cutting-edge projects and career opportunities.

A senior MoD source said the programme would help “inspire the next generation of cyber defenders” and ensure Britain remains competitive in an increasingly digital battlespace. “The threats we face are evolving fast. From state-backed hackers to disinformation campaigns, conflicts today are fought as much online as on the ground. These new sixth forms will give young people the tools to protect our country in the decades ahead.”

The move is part of a wider overhaul of defence education and recruitment. Ministers are expected to outline a comprehensive industrial strategy next week, focused on building sovereign capability, boosting research investment and creating pathways for young people into defence-related careers.

Defence officials believe early intervention is crucial. By engaging teenagers at sixth form level, they hope to attract a more diverse pool of candidates into technical roles that have traditionally suffered from shortages. The cyber sixth forms will also prioritise outreach to underrepresented groups, with the MoD aiming to broaden participation in STEM subjects and reduce barriers to entry.

The £182m funding package will cover the establishment of the institutions, curriculum development, and long-term support for teaching staff and facilities. Students will follow a dual pathway, combining standard academic qualifications with intensive training modules designed with industry partners.

Critics of similar initiatives have in the past raised concerns about the militarisation of education and the ethical implications of teaching warfare-related skills to teenagers. However, supporters argue that the programme addresses urgent national security needs and provides young people with highly transferable skills in computing and data science that will also benefit the wider economy.

The UK is not alone in pursuing such strategies. Countries including the US, Israel and Estonia already have specialist programmes designed to identify and train cyber talent from an early age. The MoD believes Britain must do the same to remain resilient in the face of rapidly escalating digital threats.

With the first cohort expected to begin studies in 2026, the success of the project will be closely watched. For ministers, the investment represents both a response to immediate security concerns and a long-term bet on Britain’s ability to cultivate its own cyber specialists