Martyn’s Law: A Practical Guide for Schools and Colleges

Martyn`s Law received Royal Assent one year ago. Schools and colleges need to be fully prepared by April 2027. Read our latest post to learn about what needs to be in place.

The UK’s evolving approach to counter-terrorism has increasingly focused on prevention, preparedness and public safety. One of the most significant developments in this space is the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, widely known as Martyn’s Law.

This legislation represents a fundamental shift in how public venues, including educational establishments, must approach security. For schools, colleges and many other public venues, the new legislation introduces clear responsibilities to assess risks, implement protective measures and ensure readiness in the event of a terrorist incident.

What is Martyn’s Law and How Did It Come About?

Martyn’s Law is named after Martyn Hett, one of the 22 victims killed in the Manchester Arena bombing at the Ariana Grande concert in May 2017. This was the deadliest terrorist attack on UK soil since the 2005 London bombings, but was only one of five mass casualty terrorist attacks in the UK in 2017.

Following the attack, Martyn’s mother, Figen Murray, led a sustained campaign to improve security at public venues. The inquiry into the attack found significant gaps in preparedness and coordination, particularly in how venues assessed and mitigated risk.

Martyn’s Law was developed to address these gaps by:

• Requiring venues to assess terrorism risks
• Mandating proportionate security measures
• Embedding a culture of preparedness across public spaces.

What is the Current State of the Legislation?

As of 2025, Martyn’s Law has been formally enacted as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, with implementation being phased in.

Key points:

• The law is now in force, but organisations are being given a grace period to comply
• Detailed guidance is being issued alongside enforcement frameworks
• Regulatory oversight is assigned to the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

Schools and colleges should not treat this as a future requirement. Since the April 2025 Royal Assent of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (Martyn`s Law), UK schools and colleges have been in a 24-month preparation period. Full compliance is required by roughly April 2027. 

While many educational settings already have robust safeguarding measures, they all need to  update their plans to meet new statutory requirements for evacuation, invacuation, and lockdown procedures in order to comply with the requirements of Martyn’s Law.

What Does the Law Mean for Public Venues?

Martyn’s Law applies to a wide range of publicly accessible locations, including:

• Theatres and cinemas
• Concert halls and nightclubs
• Schools and colleges
• Community centres and places of worship
• Sports venues and public halls.

All such venues must:

• Understand their exposure to terrorist threats
• Put in place reasonable and proportionate mitigation measures
• Train staff to respond effectively in emergencies.

The emphasis is not on turning venues into fortresses, but on ensuring preparedness and awareness.

How Serious is the Terrorist Threat in the UK?

The UK’s national threat level has remained at “Substantial” for extended periods in recent years, meaning: An attack is likely.

This reflects a persistent and evolving threat from:

• Islamist extremist groups
• Far-right extremism
• Self-radicalised individuals.

Full details of UK terrorism threat levels and what they mean is available from the MI5 website. 

Recent Examples of Disrupted Plots and Arrests

UK counter-terrorism policing has successfully disrupted numerous plots including:

• Multiple late-stage attacks prevented involving knives, vehicles, and homemade explosives
• Arrests of individuals targeting schools, public transport, and crowded venues
• Increasing number of lone actors radicalised online.

Security services report that dozens of plots have been foiled since 2017, many at advanced stages of planning.

The key takeaway: The terrorism threat is real, ongoing, and increasingly unpredictable.

Standard Tier vs Enhanced Tier Premises

Martyn’s Law introduces a tiered system based on venue capacity and risk.

Standard Tier (Lower Capacity Venues)

Venues with capacities for 100 - 799 people primarily fall into the Standard Tier category.

Requirements for these locations include:

• Basic terrorism risk assessment
• Simple, practical mitigation measures
• Staff awareness training
• Clear emergency procedures (e.g., lockdown, evacuation).

The Government has clarified that even if a school (including primary, secondary, and academies) routinely holds events (such as sports days or theatre productions) that exceed the 800 capacity limit, they are specifically excluded from the Enhanced Tier requirements of Martyn`s Law. But, as noted later in this post, there are additional precautions required for these events.

Enhanced Tier (Higher Capacity Venues)

Venues with capacities for 800+ people fall into the Enhanced Tier. Requirements for Enhanced Tier venues include:

• Detailed security plans
• Formal risk assessments
• Physical security measures (e.g., access control, surveillance)
• Liaison with police and counter-terrorism advisors
• Regular testing and exercising of plans.

Schools and colleges might typically exceed the 800 person capacity that applies to the Standard Tier during:

• Large assemblies
• Public events
• Performances or sports fixtures.

But as noted, the UK government has stated that these establishments are specifically excluded from the additional requirements that apply to Enhanced Tier premises. Nevertheless, schools and colleges holding such events should take appropriate steps and implement sensible procedures to enhance event safety and security.

What is the Role of the Security Industry Authority (SIA)?

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is the UK government body responsible for regulating the private security industry. It manages the compulsory licensing of security personnel, such as security guards, door supervisors and close protection officers. It also manages the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).

On the 15th April 2026 the SIA launched a public consultation on its draft section 12 statutory guidance for Martyn’s law. The guidance sets out how the SIA intends to carry out its role as regulator for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, known as Martyn’s Law.

The Security Industry Authority is the regulator responsible for:

• Overseeing compliance with Martyn’s Law
• Issuing guidance and best practice
• Monitoring and enforcing requirements
• Investigating breaches.

The SIA has the power to:

• Request evidence of compliance
• Issue improvement notices
• Apply sanctions for serious failures.

What Schools and Colleges Need to Do

The best places to find guidance on Martyn`s Law compliance for schools and colleges are the official UK government websites, specifically the Department for Education (DfE) and ProtectUK, as these provide the most up-to-date and statutory information.

Here`s a useful summary of key requirements.

1. Understand Your Legal Duty

Schools are now legally responsible for:

• Protecting students, staff, and visitors from terrorist threats
• Demonstrating proportionate preparedness
• Embedding security into everyday operations.

As noted, schools and colleges can find guidance on Martyn`s Law (the Terrorism [Protection of Premises] Act 2025) primarily through government resources, which emphasise that education settings are in the Standard Tier regardless of size, requiring proportionate, low-cost safety procedures.

2. Conduct a Terrorism Risk Assessment

This should include:

• Site layout assessment including access points
• Crowd movement and gathering areas
• Various potential attack methods (vehicle, knife, IED)
• Vulnerabilities during peak times (start/end of day, events).

Detailed guidance on how to conduct an appropriate risk assessment is provided by both the Government  and by the Department for Education.

3. Implement Practical Security Measures

These do not need to be complex or expensive. They need to address:

• Controlled access to buildings
• Visitor management systems
• Perimeter awareness (gates, fencing, supervision)
• Clear signage and communication protocols.

Schools must have documented, practical plans for: 

• Evacuation: Safely moving people out of the building.
• Invacuation/Lockdown: Moving people to a secure internal area, such as locking classroom doors to secure the site against an attacker.
• Communication: Procedures for alerting staff, students, and visitors of danger, including how to contact emergency services.
• Check/Review: Regularly testing these procedures at least annually and updating them when building layouts or procedures change.

It is important to ensure procedures apply to breakfast clubs, after school activities and evening events. It is also essential to consider how to safely secure wheelchair users or students with specific needs, such as ensuring they can be secured without needing to move long distances.

4. Train Staff and Build Awareness

It is important to ensure all staff are familiar with emergency procedures and feel confident in responding.

All staff should understand:

• How to recognise suspicious behaviour
• What to do in a lockdown or evacuation
• The “Run, Hide, Tell” principles.

Staff training for safety and security should be:

• Regular
• Scenario-based
• Embedded into safeguarding culture.

5. Develop and Test Emergency Plans

Emergency plans should cover:

• Lockdown procedures
• Evacuation routes
• Communication with emergency services
• Parent/carer communication.

Schools need to test their Martyn’s Law emergency plan and preparation by carrying out regular, proportionate drills. These should include lockdown and evacuation procedures, similar to fire drills. Emergency planning should be assessed and tested through staff workshops, scenario-based exercises and by testing and reviewing technology, such as alarm systems, to make certain everything is working and ensure a swift, coordinated emergency response.

6. Manage Events and Lettings Carefully

Schools must assess risks for:

• School productions
• Sports days
• External hirers using facilities.

Effective management may include:

• Capacity limits
• Stewarding arrangements
• Entry/exit controls.

As previously noted, the government has clarified that even if a school holds events (such as sports days or theatre productions) that exceed the 800 person capacity limit for Standard Tier premises, they are still excluded from the Enhanced Tier requirements for Martyn’s Law. 

But while the school isn’t required to comply with Enhanced Tier procedures, for these events it should:

• Appoint a Responsible Person: Designate a named individual to oversee security procedures at the events.
• Notify the Regulator: Notify the Security Industry Authority (SIA) that they are responsible for the premises.
• Implement "Reasonably Practicable" Procedures: Develop, implement, and train staff on procedures that, so far as is reasonably practicable, mitigate the risk of physical harm in the event of an attack at the events they hold.
• Develop Core Action Plans: Ensure plans are in place for the following areas, which can be done through staff training, briefings, and drills:
  
  • Evacuation: Safely moving people out of the school or event area.
  • Invacuation/Lockdown: Safely moving people into designated safe areas and securing the building against threats.
  • Communication: Procedures for alerting staff and event attendees to danger. 

Impact on Day-to-Day School Operations

It makes sense for schools and colleges to consider exactly how the new legislation will affect their day-to-day operations. Martyn’s Law will influence daily practice in several ways:

• Increased vigilance among staff
• More structured visitor management
• Regular security discussions and reviews
• Integration of counter-terrorism into safeguarding policies.

But importantly, the new legislation should not create fear or disruption. The primary goal is quiet, effective preparedness, not visible alarm.

Key Steps for Compliance (Quick Checklist)

Here’s a basic summary of what schools and colleges should be doing now in order to be fully prepared:

• Conduct a terrorism risk assessment
• Implement proportionate security measures
• Train all staff
• Develop and test emergency plans
• Carry out emergency drills
• Review procedures for events and external use
• Document everything for SIA compliance.

Martyn’s Law Preparation

Martyn’s Law represents a major cultural shift: from reacting to terrorism to anticipating and preparing for it.

For schools and colleges, the message is clear:

• You are part of the UK’s protective security framework
• Preparedness is now a legal expectation
• Proportionate action, not perfection, is what matters.

By taking practical, structured steps now, educational institutions can not only meet their legal obligations but also enhance the safety and resilience of their environments for everyone in their care.

If you have any questions about school security, or other security needs, remember we are here to help. Give us a call on 01273 092601 and we’ll provide you with free, expert advice.

For more information on Martyn’s Law: A Practical Guide for Schools and Colleges talk to Insight Security