Guidance

School to school (S2S) data transfer system: guides

How schools and local authorities access and use the S2S secure data transfer system.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 10 December 2013
• Last updated: 16 February 2022 — See all updates

Documents

School to school (S2S) guide for schools

Ref: DfE-00155-2019

PDF, 747 KB, 22 pages

School to school (S2S) guide for local authorities

Ref: DfE-00154-2019

PDF, 557 KB, 26 pages

Encrypting data you wish to send using WinZip

PDF, 259 KB, 2 pages

Details

Guidance on how to use the S2S secure data transfer system to send pupil data using the common transfer file to schools and local authorities.

The guides cover:

• encrypting data
• file formats and naming conventions
• uploading and downloading files
• pupil transfers
• using the unique learner number link to access the learning records service

The unique learner numbers (ULN) service, within S2S was removed in August 2020. Schools can now get ULNs directly from the LRS portal using the same format files. Guidance on using the LRS portal is available.

Published 10 December 2013
Last updated 16 February 2022 + show all updates

1. 16 February 2022

   Removed the 'S2S ULN service: user guide'.

2. 26 July 2019

   Updated guidance for schools and LAs to include information on using DfE sign-in to access S2S.

3. 12 April 2017

   Updated S2S ULN service guide with warnings about sending unsecured, personal information.

4. 2 October 2014

   Updated URLs, screenshots and acronyms in 'S2S: guide for schools' and 'S2S: guide for local authorities'.

5. 10 December 2013

   First published.