Update on secure communication arrangements: Withdrawal of SchoolsFX
Message from Tony Fitzpatrick, Director of Education Hertfordshire County Council
Further to my communication of 24th March 2026, I would just like to make you aware of the decision I outlined in that email regarding the provision of SchoolsFX, which currently enables secure file transfers to individuals and organisations beyond HCC.
Following a review of the low usage by schools and taking into account financial considerations, the Local Authority has taken the decision that it is no longer possible to continue funding SchoolsFX. As a result, the SchoolsFX service will be withdrawn from 1st July 2026.
From this point forward, schools will need to make their own arrangements for securely sending files to any external recipients. Please note that where schools need to exchange information with the Local Authority, we will continue to offer a secure solution. This is currently undertaken either through HertsSecure or HertsFX and further information on the Local Authority’s longer-term approach for secure information exchange will be shared in due course. Guidance on how to use HertsFX is available on The Grid.
To support your planning, there are a number of secure file transfer and collaboration platforms available on the open market that schools may wish to explore. These include, for example:
- Microsoft OneDrive or SharePoint (with appropriate security and sharing controls)
- Google Workspace secure sharing
- Egress
- Citrix ShareFile
- Dropbox Business
This list is not exhaustive, and it is important to stress that the Local Authority is not recommending or endorsing any specific solution. Each school remains responsible for undertaking its own due diligence to ensure that any solution adopted is appropriate, secure, compliant with UK GDPR and data protection legislation, and aligned with the school’s own policies and risk appetite.
Schools are also reminded that any files currently stored within SchoolsFX user accounts must be reviewed and removed ahead of the service being decommissioned at the end of June. It is the responsibility of each school to ensure that all data is appropriately retrieved, transferred or securely deleted.
I appreciate that this change may require schools to review existing processes, and I thank you for your understanding. If you have questions specifically about secure exchanges with the Local Authority, further guidance will be provided alongside details of the long term solution during June 2026, or alternatively please direct queries to educationteam@hertfordshire.gov.uk