S2S is a secure data transfer website available to schools and local authorities in England and Wales. It was designed to enable common transfer format (CTF) files to be sent from, and to, any maintained school.
Generic file transfer facility
A generic file transfer facility enables S2S users to exchange files of any safe type securely by following a file name convention; for schools there is a file size limit of 4Mb.
Secure messaging service
A secure messaging service enables free-text messages, or a message based on a standard template, to be sent to other S2S users.
Logging in to S2S
Access to S2S is now through the DfE’s sign-in system at: https://services.signin.education.gov.uk/my-services
Encryption
All generic files sent to the DfE via S2S must be encrypted using Winzip, DfE’s tool of choice.
1. Name the file you want to send in the S2S format eg: 101LLLL_ DFESXXX_max15characters.xls (101 = LA number).
2. Right click, choose WinZip, and click on ‘Add to zip file.
3. In the ‘Compression’ section, highlight ‘.Zip Legacy compression (maximum compatibility).
4. Under ‘Options’, tick ‘Encrypt added files’, then click ‘Add’.
5. This will bring up the ‘Encrypt’ box to create a password. The password must be at least eight characters long, (please remember the password as you will have to relay it to the destination organisation.)
6. Under ‘Encryption method’, click ‘256-Bit AES (stronger).’
7. Click ‘OK’. The WinZip file will have been created in the folder you have saved it in.
How to find a school
To find the DfE number and other details of the school to which the pupil is moving prior to creating a common transfer file, you can use the Establishment Finder at Getting Information About Schools (GIAS).
To search for a school, input in the minimum information – such as town and the main part of the school name; for example, if you are looking for St. Mary and St. Martha School, Fishponds Lane, Bristol you are likely to find the school you want by just entering ‘Martha’ into the school name box and ‘Bristol’ into the town box. This service includes schools in Wales and school which have closed.
To find details of schools in Scotland use: NGFL Scotland. It is not currently possible to send a CTF to a school in Scotland but you can share information on children moving to or from Scotland and confirm that a transfer has been completed.
Filename formats for schools
The filename is used to identify the source, destination and type of file being sent – it is critical that the filename is correct. The following filenames are used and are automatically generated when the file is created.
For further support in learning to use the service click here.
Read more from this article and Education Executive in the summer issue of our magazine here.
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