Martyn's Law: what it means for schools

As Martyn’s Law receives Royal Assent, publicly accessible premises will be required to strengthen their preparedness for potential terrorist threats. So what does this new legislation mean for schools?

In April 2025, nearly eight years after the Manchester Arena bombing claimed the lives of 22 people, including 29-year-old Martyn Hett, a significant milestone in UK public safety legislation was reached. Commonly known as Martyn’s Law, the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill received Royal Assent, cementing new legal duties for publicly accessible premises to strengthen their preparedness for potential terrorist threats.

The new law applies to educational establishments, with schools, colleges, early years providers and further education settings legally required to implement practical safety measures that reduce the risk of harm in the event of an attack.There is a 24-month implementation period following Royal Assent, which gives time for guidance to be published and for schools to prepare.

What are schools required to do?

The new law requires schools to ensure they are prepared for a potential terrorist attack. Every school must now appoint a designated responsible person who will oversee the implementation of protection procedures. These procedures must be “so far as is reasonably practicable” aimed at mitigating the risk of physical harm to pupils, staff, and visitors. As part of their compliance, schools must conduct regular risk assessments to identify .

While the requirements are comprehensive, they remain proportionate. Martyn’s Law does not demand that schools undergo specialist terrorism training potential vulnerabilities. These assessments will inform safety plans and help to guide decision-making around physical security and response protocols.

For schools wondering what Martyn’s Law should look like on the ground, the law outlines four types of procedures that must be in place. These include evacuation, where staff move individuals safely out of the building or premises; invacuation, where people are brought into safer internal areas to protect them from external threats; and lockdown, which involves securing the site – particularly classrooms – by locking doors and preventing movement.The fourth requirement is communication: alerting everyone on site that there is danger. This could involve the use of public address systems, alarms, or other technology that enables swift communication during a crisis. Even in the absence of advanced technology, communication must be timely, clear, and effective under pressure.

Schools that do not have electronically controlled access points are still expected to implement a single integrated procedure for invacuation and lockdown. The emphasis should be on what is practical and appropriate for their specific site – securing classroom doors and managing access routes without necessarily needing to invest in costly infrastructure. While the requirements are comprehensive, they remain proportionate. Martyn’s Law does not demand that schools undergo specialist terrorism training or complete detailed threat evaluations. Instead, staff must be aware of the safety procedures in place and receive relevant guidance based on their roles. Free continuing professional development (CPD) training is available via ProtectUK, a government-supported platform offering resources tailored to schools and other public venues.

The tiered approach

The legislation introduces a tiered framework for public venues, determined primarily by capacity: standard tier is for venues with 200–799 capacity and enhanced tier is for over 800 capacity.

However, educational settings are treated differently. Regardless of capacity, all schools fall under the standard tier. This reflects the recognition that schools already operate with robust safeguarding and health and safety procedures. Therefore, even large-scale schools or academies with over 800 students are not expected to adopt the more stringent enhanced tier requirements. These are reserved for large venues such as concert halls and sporting arenas, which may be required to employ dedicated security staff, install CCTV systems, and develop more complex operational security plans.

Clarifying event obligations

A persistent concern among education leaders has been whether school-hosted events – such as concerts, summer fairs, or sports days with over 800 attendees – might trigger Enhanced Tier responsibilities. However, educational premises are excluded from the definition of “qualifying events.” This means that even if a school event draws a large crowd, it remains covered under Standard Tier requirements. Schools do not need to introduce specialist security or undergo additional event-specific planning as a result of high attendance alone.

The origins of Martyn’s Law

Martyn’s Law is rooted in a deeply personal campaign. Named after Martyn Hett, who died in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, the law is the result of tireless campaigning by his mother, Figen Murray. In partnership with former counter-terrorism national coordinator Nick Aldworth, she began advocating in 2019 for greater protective measures in public spaces. Their campaign, which began as a grassroots effort, gathered significant momentum. The original proposals included five central principles: providing free staff training, conducting vulnerability assessments, mitigating identified risks, developing counter-terrorism plans, and promoting local authority planning.

In May 2024, Figen and her fellow campaigners walked from Manchester to London to raise awareness. Their efforts culminated in a meeting with then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and opposition leader Keir Starmer, who later became Prime Minister. Within months, Martyn’s Law had passed through Parliament and was signed into law.
Speaking on the day the bill received Royal Assent, Prime Minister Starmer called it a “landmark moment” and praised the courage of campaigners: “Security is the foundation of our Plan for Change and the first duty of any government. Martyn’s Law will ensure everyone can enjoy public events more safely and ensure venues across the country have clear, practical measures in place to protect people.”

Figen Murray added: “Over the implementation period it is vital that the government and Security Industry Authority provide all that is necessary for publicly accessible locations to implement Martyn’s Law.”

An enhancement of school safety

Martyn’s Law is not designed to create fear in schools, but rather to embed a culture of preparedness. It reinforces the importance of clear planning, staff readiness, and secure environments – complementing, rather than replacing, the safeguarding principles schools already uphold.

The government says that guidance will be provided “in due course” to assist those responsible to understand the requirements set out in the legislation. Find out more about Martyn’s Law here.