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Martyn's Law · schools and education

Martyn's Law for schools and education settings

What the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 means for nurseries, schools and colleges, summarised from the Department for Education and Home Office, with links to every official source.

Information only, not advice. Checked 11 October 2026.

About this information: information only, not advice

This is a collection of publicly available information about Martyn's Law (the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025), drawn from GOV.UK, the Home Office and ProtectUK, to help organisations think about how they might prepare. It is not advice of any kind: not legal, security, compliance or professional advice. It does not decide whether your premises or event are in scope, or whether you comply. SPS Security does not provide Martyn's Law advice or consultancy. Any scores, summaries or points to consider are general prompts based on your own answers, not recommendations. Always check the official guidance and take your own legal or professional advice before making decisions. SPS Security accepts no liability for decisions made using this information.

Quick answer

Martyn's Law applies to schools, colleges and nurseries where 200 or more people may be present at the same time. These settings are always standard tier, so they need public protection procedures for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication, and a responsible person who notifies the SIA. The requirements are not yet in force; the SIA expects them in spring 2027. Sources: DfE and the GOV.UK scope factsheet.

Does Martyn's Law apply to my school?

200 or more people

Education premises where 200 or more people (staff and learners together) may reasonably be expected to be present are in scope. Settings below 200 are out of scope, although the DfE encourages them to have preparedness plans.

Source: DfE

Always standard tier

Premises used for childcare, primary, secondary or further education are always treated as standard tier, even if 800 or more people are expected. The enhanced duties do not apply to them. Higher education follows the normal tier rules.

Source: GOV.UK scope factsheet

The responsible person

Each in-scope setting must have a responsible person, who must notify the SIA. For a primary school (other than a pupil referral unit), this is the governing body or, where there is none, the proprietor.

Source: DfE

School events

Events held at early years or school premises are not drawn into scope as qualifying events, and the premises stay standard tier.

Source: DfE

What schools need to have in place

The standard tier duty is to have public protection procedures, so far as reasonably practicable. They are intended to be simple and low cost; the Act does not require physical alterations or equipment purchases at this tier.

Evacuation

Moving people out of the premises or event, away from danger.

Invacuation

Moving people to a safer place within the premises or event.

Lockdown

Securing the premises or event to stop people entering or leaving.

Communication

Making sure information is given to people at the premises or event.

Source: GOV.UK standard duty factsheet

The DfE's protective security and preparedness guidance covers security awareness, suspicious activity and building low-cost preparedness plans for education settings in England.

Free interactive tools

Test your thinking in minutes

Two free tools built on themes from the official guidance. Answer a few questions and get instant, general prompts to consider. Information only, not advice.

2 minutes

Martyn's Law Awareness Check

A quick quiz on general protective security themes, with an instant awareness score.

Try a question

Which statement best describes stronger role clarity?

3–5 minutes

Martyn's Law Readiness Review

A guided set of questions across eight themes, ending with a summary of points to consider that you can print or email.

Themes it covers

ProceduresRolesEscalationLockdown & invacuationVisitor managementCCTV & accessOut of hoursEvidence
Your summary8 themes

Strengths · possible blind spots · points to consider

Both tools are free, take minutes and give general prompts based on your answers. They are not advice and do not assess compliance.

Official sources

Official resources for schools

DfE, Home Office and ProtectUK resources most relevant to education settings. Use the filters to see the wider library.

Links last checked: 11 October 2026

3 resources

Where SPS Security fits

SPS Security does not provide Martyn's Law advice. We provide security services for schools and colleges, including DBS-checked officers, holiday patrols, lock and unlock, and key holding, across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

Back to the Martyn's Law information hub
FAQs

Martyn's Law and schools: FAQs

Summarised from official sources. Information only, not advice.

Yes, where 200 or more people (staff and learners combined) may reasonably be expected to be present. Settings below 200 are out of scope. Source: DfE, How Martyn's Law will affect education settings.
Premises used for childcare, primary, secondary or further education are always standard tier, even if 800 or more people are expected. The enhanced duties do not apply to them. Source: GOV.UK scope (premises) factsheet.
In-scope settings must put in place, so far as reasonably practicable, public protection procedures for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication, and the responsible person must notify the SIA. The Act does not require physical alterations or equipment purchases at the standard tier. Source: DfE and GOV.UK standard duty factsheet.
For a primary school other than a pupil referral unit, the DfE says it is the governing body or, if there is none, the proprietor. Check the DfE guidance and the responsible person factsheet for other settings.
Not yet. There is an implementation period of at least 24 months from Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, and the SIA expects the Act to take effect in spring 2027. Source: DfE and SIA guidance.
Higher education is a qualifying use under Schedule 1, but it does not get the 'always standard tier' treatment, so the normal rules apply: 200–799 people is standard tier and 800 or more is enhanced tier. Source: GOV.UK scope (premises) factsheet.
The Act has no statutory training requirement, but staff with a role in the procedures must understand them. ProtectUK offers free ACT e-learning for education, developed by the DfE with NaCTSO.
The Act's duties apply across the UK. The DfE guidance referred to on this page covers education settings in England; check guidance from the relevant devolved government for other nations.
No. It is a collection of publicly available information from the DfE, Home Office and SIA. It is not legal, security, compliance or professional advice. SPS Security does not provide Martyn's Law advice.
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