Understanding Martyn’s Law: A Guide for Schools

Rachel Gordon

October 28, 2026

5 min read

Martyn’s Law received Royal Assent in April 2025 and introduced new requirements for those in charge of certain premises and events. The legislation seeks to improve protective security and organisational preparedness and requires that premises consider how they would respond to a terrorist attack. Education settings are included within the premises subject to the new law. As such, schools must have an understanding of their responsibilities in order to be legally compliant. In this article we will outline the legal responsibilities that schools have under Martyn’s Law and how they can comply with it.

What is Martyn’s Law?

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, commonly referred to as Martyn’s Law, seeks to improve protective security and organisational preparedness across the UK. The Act requires that those responsible for certain premises and events take steps to mitigate the impact of a terrorist attack and reduce harm in the event of a terrorist attack occurring. Certain larger premises and events must also now take steps to reduce their vulnerability to terrorist attacks.

Martyn’s Law is named after 29-year-old Martyn Hett who was killed, along with 21 others, in the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack. Following the attack, the Manchester Arena Inquiry report and the London Bridge Inquests identified the need for improved legislations and guidelines to protect the public from terrorist attacks. The report found that the emergency services failed to work together following the bombing leading to a range of missed opportunities that could have ‘altered the course of what happened that night.’ After the attack, Martyn’s mother, Figen Murray, campaigned tirelessly for new measures to improve security protocols. Her continuous efforts were rewarded when Royal Assent was secured for Martyn’s Law on 3rd April 2025. You can read more about Martyn’s Law and how it impacts other premises in our article here.

Understanding the Rules for Schools

Martyn’s Law places responsibilities on a wide range of premises, including education settings. Under Martyn’s Law, the responsible person and/or the person who has control of the premises for its relevant use, must consider:

The risks posed by terrorism.
How they would respond to a terrorist attack, including having appropriate public protection procedures in place and ensuring staff know what to do.
For larger premises and qualifying events, what additional steps are reasonably practicable to reduce vulnerability and reduce the risk of physical harm.

The Act sets out a tiered approach depending on the number of people reasonably expected to be present at the same time.

The standard tier applies to premises that can reasonably expect between 200 to 799 individuals to be present.

The enhanced tier applies to premises that expect 800 or more individuals to be present.

Premises that are used for early years or primary, secondary or further education have special considerations and remain in the standard tier even if 800 or more individuals are expected to be present. Moreover, events that are held in such premises will not be drawn into scope as qualifying events, but the premises would remain in the standard tier.

These special considerations mean that enhanced duty requirements do not apply for premises used for early years, primary, secondary or further education. Department for Education (DfE) funded independent training providers also fall under this special consideration and remain in the standard tier even if they expect 800 or more individuals.

Privately owned independent training providers do not fall under the special consideration. As such, they will be treated as other premises in scope of the Act and their tier will depend on the number of individuals expected to be present.

Higher education establishments also do not fall under the special consideration. As such, they will fall into the standard tier if it is reasonable to expect 200 to 799 individuals to be present and will move into the enhanced tier if it is reasonable to expect 800 or more individuals.

Though sometimes used interchangeably, Further Education and Higher Education do not refer to the same thing. Further Education covers almost all learning that takes place after secondary school that isn’t a university degree. Higher Education refers to education at a Level 4 and above and is primarily delivered by universities and specialist institutions. As such, Further Education premises and Higher Education premises fall into different categories.

How Can Schools Comply with Martyn’s Law?

To ensure legal compliance, the relevant education settings will need to have public protection procedures in place so far as is reasonably practicable. This includes:

Evacuation – to get people out of the premises
Invacuation – to move people to a safe place
Lockdown – to secure premises against attackers
Communication – to alert people on the premises to the danger

Education settings will also need to notify the Security Industry Authority (SIA) of who the Responsible Person is. For qualifying premises this will be the person who has control of the premises in connection with their relevant Schedule 1 use. For example, for a primary school (excluding a pupil referral unit) the Responsible Person would be the governing body, or the proprietor of the institution.

Practical Next Steps for School Leaders

Whilst Martyn’s Law was given Royal Assent in April 2025 it has not yet come into force and the government has signalled a minimum 24-month implementation period. This period will give educational settings sufficient time to understand their obligations and prepare accordingly.

Ways in which educational settings can prepare include:

Creating simple plans to improve protective security awareness and preparedness.
Carrying out risk assessments.
Testing emergency procedures.
Appointing a ‘security’ lead to develop and maintain policies and plans that promote a good security culture.
Appointing a ‘responsible person’ to oversee legal compliance.
Registering with the Security Industry Authority.
Considering the needs of learners and staff with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) to ensure that policies are inclusive and accessible.
Providing staff with comprehensive training so that they understand the requirements set out by Martyn’s Law.
Creating a ‘bomb threat checklist’ to prepare for a live incident and to ensure staff are familiar with the processes.
Familiarising staff with RUN HIDE TELL procedures to ensure they can immediately respond to live incidents
Developing Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for those who need them.
Compiling a ‘grab kit’ comprised of key items that can assist during an incident.
Reading the government guidance on protective security and preparedness.
Conducting tabletop exercises to identify gaps in policy and potential responses to security breaches.

Martyn’s Law reiterates the importance of a culture of preparedness in order to keep people safe. Whilst it highlights the significance of readiness in the face of potential threats, it does not seek to create fear. Rather, it encourages educational settings to plan accordingly and provide staff with the necessary tools to keep people safe. In so doing, educational settings can respond to terrorists attacks in a timely manner than reduces further harm as much as possible.