This document needs your action as detailed below:

The primary reason for this development is to reduce bureaucracy in schools. With this last piece in place you and we can place data in a specific place on our computers and it will then be automatically transferred at intervals. In the main, the data will be the regular electronic reports from Phoenix (or other appropriate management information system) and your finance software you currently send on paper or disc. No more form filling and no more floppy discs! It really will break the back in this area of bureaucracy. We are also offering to secondary schools, again free of charge, software to carry out examinations entries and associated electronic data transfer.

We are aware that some schools will not yet be able to make use of this facility – these schools are listed on the Internet site mentioned above. There are a number of issues causing these problems that ICT Solutions are currently addressing. In the short term these schools will have to continue using floppy discs etc but we look forward to them joining in with this development as soon as is possible.

By the 5^th December we ask that you download and install the necessary software from the above mentioned web site onto your computer as described by the notes also on the web site. To check that the Secure Data Transfer system and Examinations Software (secondary schools only) is working properly, there are a couple of small test procedures for you to carry out. It has been evident from our extensive trials in volunteer schools with school secretaries and administrators that this is a straight forward process. After installation you will be ready to use this system and later this term you will receive a request to submit electronic files to support the roll-out of email addresses to school staff and pupils – more details to follow. Also, in the Spring Term some of your financial data files will be transferred between the LEA and schools using this system. However, the big test is the DfES Pupil Level Annual School Census in January 2002, for which we intend to use this approach to collect schools PLASC files. All being well, if your data is up to date, the PLASC return (the old form 7) should prove to be straight forward process taking less time than the old Form 7. Beyond this we wish to work with schools in developing this secure data transfer facility to optimum mutual benefit and will communicate further details of how the service will be expanded and developed in due course.