Methodology for Designing and Developing a Cybersecurity Curriculum for Secondary Schools

The extensive implementation of digital technologies has introduced significant cybersecurity risks for secondary school students, revealing major deficiencies in structured instruction, teacher preparation, and institutional support. From 2022 to 2024, a study conducted across Welsh secondary schools established a systematic methodology for cybersecurity curriculum design and development based on the Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM). The approach integrates five key cybersecurity knowledge areas and pedagogical frameworks, including the Cyber Security Body of Knowledge (CyBOK) and the Digital Competence Framework, into a structured curriculum supported by technological tools for customization.This paper presents the DSRM-based methodology developed to address the lack of standardized cybersecurity education and the challenges of teacher preparation. As part of a broader research project, this work focuses on the methodological framework; empirical evaluation of its effectiveness will be reported in future publications. The paper concludes with recommendations on implementation, scalability, and ongoing development, emphasizing the potential for global adoption and the need for sustained institutional commitment to cybersecurity education.