Schools are increasingly expected to take a proactive approach to safety, and Martyn’s Law marks a significant step in that shift. As of publication, the legislation, officially the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, with statutory guidance published in April 2026 and full enforcement expected in spring 2027 following a 24-month implementation period.
As requirements become clearer, many education settings are now considering what Martyn’s Law means in practice, and how they can prepare.
What is Martyn’s Law for Schools?
Martyn’s Law is a UK legislation designed to improve security and preparedness in publicly accessible locations, including schools. Named after Martyn Hett, a victim of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, the law was introduced to ensure organisations take stronger steps to protect people from potential terrorist threats.
For schools, this means carrying out risk assessments, implementing proportionate safety measures, and ensuring staff are prepared to respond effectively in the event of an incident.
Why Martyn’s Law Applies to Schools
Schools are considered publicly accessible spaces, particularly during events such as parents’ evenings, performances, and open days. As a result, they fall within scope of Martyn’s Law where 200 or more people are expected on-site, placing most schools into the “standard tier” of the legislation.
Even settings with fewer than 200 people are encouraged to adopt similar preparedness measures as part of best practice.
Implementing Martyn’s Law in Schools
Implementing Martyn’s Law in schools is about taking practical, proportionate steps to improve safety and reduce risk. Rather than introducing unnecessary complexity, the legislation encourages schools to identify vulnerabilities early and strengthen existing processes.
To support this, our Head of Education and Alliances, Alice O’Shea, highlights the key areas schools should focus on when preparing for compliance.
Security Measures Schools Need for Martyn’s Law Compliance
Schools will need to adopt a more structured approach to security to better protect students, staff, and visitors.
This includes:
- Conducting regular risk assessments
- Strengthening emergency planning
- Reviewing physical and procedural security measures
- Ensuring clear communication systems are in place
The focus is on being prepared and responsive, rather than implementing excessive or costly infrastructure.
Mandatory Risk Assessments
Risk assessments are a core requirement under Martyn’s Law, helping schools identify potential vulnerabilities and prioritise action.
Schools should:
- Assess site access points and visitor flow
- Identify high-risk scenarios (e.g. events, peak times)
- Review existing safeguarding and security measures
- Regularly update assessments as environments or risks change
This proactive approach helps ensure risks are addressed before they can be exploited.
Staff Training and Awareness
Prepared staff are essential to an effective response. Training should ensure employees feel confident recognising risks and acting quickly in an emergency.
Schools should consider:
- Basic counter-terrorism awareness training
- Clear escalation and reporting processes
- Role-specific responsibilities during incidents
- Age-appropriate student awareness where relevant
Building a culture of awareness supports both prevention and response.
Emergency Response Planning for Schools
Schools will need clearly defined and regularly tested emergency plans to meet Martyn’s Law expectations.
This includes planning for:
- Evacuation: safely exiting the building
- Invacuation: moving to secure internal locations
- Lockdown procedures: restricting movement and securing classrooms
- Real-time communication during incidents
Regular drills and simulations are essential to ensure everyone understands their role. When conducting these, schools should remain mindful of:
- Students or staff with prior trauma
- Sensory sensitivities or additional needs
Government guidance also highlights the importance of the “Guide, Shelter, Communicate” principles, with mass communication playing a key role in effective response.
Collaboration with Law Enforcement
Martyn’s Law encourages closer coordination between schools and emergency services to ensure faster, more effective responses.
Schools should:
- Build relationships with local police and emergency services
- Align emergency procedures with local authority guidance
- Share relevant safety information where appropriate
Being part of a wider security network strengthens overall preparedness.
Community Reassurance and Communication
A visible commitment to safety helps reassure parents, students, and the wider community.
Schools can strengthen trust by:
- Clearly communicating safety procedures
- Providing updates on improvements or changes
- Demonstrating a proactive approach to risk management
Transparency plays an important role in building confidence.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Complying with Martyn’s Law ensures schools meet their legal obligations while improving overall safety standards.
To support this, schools should:
- Stay up to date with evolving legislation and guidance
- Maintain clear documentation of policies and procedures
- Review compliance regularly as requirements develop
SCG works in partnership with The Protect Alliance (UK) and recommends aligning with established standards, including:
- ISO 45001: focuses on health and safety, including emergency preparedness
- ISO 22301: focuses on business continuity and recovery planning
Both frameworks reinforce the importance of risk management, preparedness, and ongoing compliance.
How Technology Supports Martyn’s Law Compliance in Schools
While Martyn’s Law focuses on proportionate, practical measures rather than costly infrastructure, technology plays a critical role in helping schools meet compliance requirements effectively and consistently.
One of the key expectations under the legislation is the ability to communicate quickly and clearly during an incident. Mass notification systems enable schools to send instant alerts across multiple channels, such as desktop, mobile, digital signage, and public address systems, ensuring staff and students receive real-time instructions during emergencies.
Technology also supports lockdown and evacuation procedures, allowing schools to trigger pre-configured alerts that guide people to safety, whether that’s securing classrooms or safely exiting the building. This reduces confusion and helps ensure a coordinated response.
In addition, visitor management systems help schools maintain accurate, real-time records of who is on-site. In the event of an incident, this makes it significantly easier to account for pupils, staff, and visitors, an important aspect of both safeguarding and incident response.
Other solutions, such as access control systems and integrated security platforms, can further strengthen a school’s ability to manage entry points, monitor activity, and respond to potential risks proactively.
Beyond incident response, technology also plays a valuable role in ongoing preparedness. Systems can support:
- Staff training and awareness
- Regular safety drills and simulations
- Audit trails for compliance and reporting
- Continuous review and improvement of emergency procedures
Ultimately, the right technology doesn’t just support compliance, it helps schools build a more resilient, responsive, and secure environment, aligning safeguarding responsibilities with the expectations set out under Martyn’s Law.
SCG: Preparing Your School for Martyn’s Law
We provide comprehensive solutions tailored to educational institutions, including secure networking, communication tools and management systems. Our expertise in school-specific technologies ensures reliable performance and compliance with safety regulations such as Martyn’s Law. In addition, our support and training services help schools maximise the effectiveness of their technology investments whilst prioritising student safety and wellbeing.
Martyn’s Law in schools is pivotal, mandating a structured and comprehensive approach to security ensuring that educational facilities are better positioned to prevent and respond to terrorist threats. Correct implementation creates safer environments for learning and growth, fostering a proactive culture of security and preparedness.
You can watch our video on Martyn’s Law here to discover how ready your school is.
If you’d like help to ensure that your school is prepared for Martyn’s Law, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0800 090 1965.
FAQs
Yes, schools that meet the attendance threshold will be legally required to comply once the legislation comes into force.
No, the standard tier focuses on practical procedures rather than physical upgrades, although technology can support compliance.
Most schools fall into the standard tier, which applies to locations expecting 200–799 people.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) will regulate and enforce compliance.