How Martyn’s Law Will Affect The Education Sector
- OMNIA Building Consultants
- 18 hours ago
- 4 min read
A practical guide for education facility owners and estate managers
Martyn’s Law (officially the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025) introduces new legal duties to help publicly accessible locations prepare for and respond to potential terrorist incidents. For education providers, the legislation places a strong emphasis on planning, staff awareness and clear emergency procedures, rather than costly physical security upgrades.
This guide explains what education facility owners need to know, how the law applies to different types of education settings, and what practical steps should be taken now.
What Is Martyn’s Law?
Martyn’s Law was named in memory of Martyn Hett, who tragically lost his life in the 2017 attack at the Manchester Arena, and aims to improve public safety by ensuring organisations are prepared to respond effectively to terrorism-related incidents. The law requires those responsible for certain premises to consider how an attack could impact their site and to introduce proportionate protective procedures.
Although the Act received Royal Assent in April 2025, it will not be fully enforced immediately. The Government has allowed at least a 24-month implementation period, meaning enforcement is expected from 2027.
Which Education Settings Does The Law Apply To?
Martyn’s Law applies to most education environments, including:
Early years settings
Primary and secondary schools
Further education colleges
Academies and independent schools
Training providers
Universities and higher education establishments
These settings are included because they are publicly accessible spaces where staff, learners and visitors are regularly present.
Understanding the Tier System
The legislation introduces a tiered framework based on the number of people expected to be on site at any one time.
Standard Tier (Most Education Settings)
Education settings have special provisions under the law:
Early years, primary, secondary and further education settings will always fall within the standard tier, even if they regularly accommodate more than 800 people.
Settings with fewer than 200 people are not legally in scope, although they are strongly encouraged to adopt preparedness plans.
Enhanced Tier (Mainly Higher Education and Some Training Providers)
Universities and privately owned training providers do not receive the same exemption and may fall into either tier depending on expected attendance levels.
What Education Facility Owners Must Do
The law focuses on improving organisational preparedness and ensuring that staff know how to respond in an emergency.
1. Appoint a Responsible Person
Each setting must nominate a responsible person, typically the governing body, proprietor or senior leadership, who oversees compliance and notifies the Security Industry Authority (SIA).
2. Conduct a Terrorism Risk Assessment
Education providers must identify realistic risks and determine how their emergency procedures would work in practice. The assessment should be documented, regularly reviewed and used to shape staff training and response plans.
3. Implement Four Core Emergency Procedures
Facilities must ensure proportionate procedures are in place covering:
Evacuation – safely moving people away from danger
Invacuation – moving occupants to safer areas inside buildings
Lockdown – securing premises to prevent access by attackers
Communication – quickly informing staff, students and visitors about threats
These procedures must be practical, clearly documented and understood by staff.
4. Train Staff and Test Procedures
Staff awareness is a key element of compliance. Education providers are expected to:
Share emergency procedures with staff
Provide training relevant to staff roles
Test procedures through drills or exercises
Preparedness and staff confidence are core objectives of the legislation.
Do Schools Need to Make Physical Security Changes?
In most cases, no major physical upgrades are required for standard-tier education settings. The legislation is designed to be proportionate and focuses on low-cost, practical planning and response procedures rather than infrastructure changes or specialist equipment.
However, reviewing existing security arrangements, such as access control, visitor management and site layout, is considered best practice.
What This Means for Education Estate Management
Martyn’s Law will reinforce responsibilities that many education providers already carry through safeguarding and health and safety frameworks. For estate and facility owners, key areas of focus include:
Reviewing building layouts and emergency exit strategies
Assessing access control and perimeter security
Ensuring emergency communication systems are effective
Supporting senior leadership teams with risk assessments and compliance documentation
Integrating protective security measures into wider estate planning
How OMNIA Building Consultants Can Support Education Providers
Preparing for Martyn’s Law can feel complex, particularly when balancing security, safeguarding and operational demands. OMNIA supports education providers by offering practical, proportionate and cost-effective compliance support.
Our services include:
Risk and Compliance Reviews
We help assess estate vulnerabilities, identify gaps in preparedness and ensure procedures align with legislative expectations.
Building and Estate Assessments
Our team evaluates site layouts, access routes and evacuation strategies to improve emergency planning and resilience.
Strategic Compliance Planning
We work with governing bodies and leadership teams to develop implementation roadmaps ahead of enforcement deadlines.
Security and Infrastructure Advice
Where improvements are beneficial, we provide guidance on practical upgrades that enhance safety without unnecessary cost.
Preparing Now Protects Your Future
While enforcement is still ahead, Martyn’s Law represents a significant step towards strengthening public safety across the education sector. Early preparation will help education providers manage risk effectively, demonstrate compliance and, most importantly, protect staff, learners and visitors.
If you would like guidance on how Martyn’s Law could affect your education estate, OMNIA Building Consultants can provide tailored support to help you prepare with confidence.
