How Martyn’s Law Will Affect Schools, Colleges and Training Providers

On 1st September 2025, the Department for Education (DfE) published long-awaited guidance on how the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 – widely known as Martyn’s Law – will apply to education settings. This new legislation, which became law in April 2025, is designed to strengthen the UK’s preparedness against terrorist attacks. Named in honour of Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, it reflects years of campaigning by his mother, Figen Murray.

For schools, colleges and training providers, the message is clear: every education setting must have robust emergency procedures in place.

Read on for our summary below.

:📖 You can read the full DfE guidance here: How Martyn’s Law will affect education settings.

What Does Martyn’s Law Mean for Education?

The DfE guidance confirms that all schools, colleges and further education providers will fall into the Standard Tier, regardless of size. Independent higher education and private training providers will be tiered based on capacity.

The Super Summary

Every education setting within scope must have a documented plan covering:

1️⃣ Lockdowns – securing the premises against threats.
2️⃣ Evacuations – moving people safely out of the building.
3️⃣ Invacuations – moving people to a safer space inside.
4️⃣ Communication – ensuring staff can coordinate effectively in an emergency.

📌 Importantly, the DfE makes clear that there is no requirement for physical security measures such as CCTV, bollards or gates. Instead, the focus is on clear, effective procedures that staff can follow confidently.

Enhanced Tier Requirements

While all education settings need procedures, Enhanced Tier providers – higher education institutions and private training providers with a capacity of 800+ – will have additional duties. They must appoint a Designated Senior Individual (DSI) responsible for documenting compliance. This includes recording:

Public protection procedures.
How risks are mitigated.
How vulnerabilities are reduced.

Why This Matters for Schools and Trusts

The UK’s counter-terrorism strategy highlights that the threat is “enduring and evolving” and an attack is considered “likely.” While there is no specific intelligence suggesting schools are a target, Martyn’s Law ensures the sector is prepared for any emergency, whether terrorism-related or not.

For leaders, this means:

Reviewing existing emergency plans.
Running drills to ensure staff know what to do.
Keeping records that demonstrate compliance and preparedness.

How teamSOS Helps Schools Get Martyn’s Law Ready

teamSOS goes far beyond ticking compliance boxes. It gives every member of staff the power to raise an alarm instantly from any device, and senior leaders the ability to trigger and manage lockdowns, evacuations or invacuations at the touch of a button. The result is a faster, safer response every time, with leadership in full control.

✅ One-tap from any device — staff raise the alarm; SLT can trigger lockdown, evacuation or invacuation instantly
✅ Two-way comms capabilities — streamlined so staff and leaders stay connected without delay or confusion
✅ Site-wide unmissable instructions — delivered in seconds with read/response tracking, so you know who is accounted for and who needs assistance
✅ Evidence, instantly — every drill and incident is logged and exportable, offering robust documentation without the admin effort

teamSOS is simple to deploy, affordable for schools, and purpose-built for education. It delivers what matters most: confidence that your staff and students are protected, and assurance that your setting is ready for Martyn’s Law.

Next Steps for Education Leaders

The Act has a 24-month implementation period before enforcement begins in April 2027. During this time:

The government will consult on statutory guidance.
Schools and trusts should prepare by updating and testing their plans.
Providers can explore solutions like teamSOS to simplify compliance and enhance safety.

Conclusion

Martyn’s Law represents a major step forward in safeguarding education settings. The emphasis isn’t on costly hardware, but on practical, proven procedures. By acting now, schools can give staff confidence, protect their communities, and ensure they are fully compliant when the law comes into force.

👉 To find out how teamSOS can help your school or trust prepare for Martyn’s Law, book a demo below.