The safety of pupils, staff, visitors, and contractors has always been a priority for educational institutions. As the UK’s security landscape continues to evolve, schools, colleges, and academy trusts are increasingly reviewing how they prepare for emergencies and respond to potential threats.
With the introduction of Martyn’s Law (The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025), educational leaders now have an opportunity to strengthen preparedness, improve resilience, and build upon existing safeguarding and health & safety practices.
While full implementation is expected by Spring 2027, proactive planning today can help educational establishments understand their responsibilities, identify potential gaps, and develop practical, proportionate measures that protect their communities.
What Is Martyn’s Law?
Martyn’s Law was introduced to improve public safety by enhancing preparedness against potential terrorist incidents in publicly accessible locations. Named in memory of Martyn Hett, who lost his life in the Manchester Arena attack, the legislation aims to ensure organisations are better equipped to respond effectively to security-related emergencies.
For schools, colleges, universities, and academy trusts, the law places greater emphasis on:
- Understanding potential security risks
- Developing appropriate emergency response procedures
- Improving awareness and preparedness among staff
- Strengthening communication during incidents
- Implementing reasonable and proportionate protective measures
The focus is not on creating fortress-like environments. Instead, Martyn’s Law encourages organisations to take practical steps that improve readiness while maintaining welcoming, accessible spaces.
Why Schools Should Start Preparing Now
Although enforcement is not expected until 2027, preparation takes time.
Educational leaders should use the transition period to assess current arrangements and consider whether existing procedures adequately address emerging security requirements.
Early preparation provides several advantages:
1. Stronger Duty of Care
School leaders and governing bodies have a responsibility to safeguard everyone on site. Reviewing preparedness now demonstrates a proactive approach to protecting pupils, staff, parents, and visitors.
2. Easier Integration with Existing Policies
Many schools already have systems in place for safeguarding, health and safety, emergency planning, and crisis management. Martyn’s Law preparations can often be integrated into existing frameworks rather than requiring entirely new processes.
3. Better Budget Planning
Security improvements are more effective when incorporated into planned budgets and technology refresh cycles. Early assessment allows institutions to prioritise investment and avoid rushed decision-making later.
4. Improved Staff Confidence
Training and awareness programmes help staff understand how to respond during critical incidents, reducing uncertainty and improving decision-making during emergencies.
Key Questions Educational Leaders Are Asking
As schools begin evaluating the impact of Martyn’s Law, several common questions continue to emerge.
Does Martyn’s Law Apply to Our School or College?
Many educational settings are likely to fall within the scope of the legislation due to the number of people regularly accessing their premises.
Understanding how the law applies to your specific environment is an important first step.
Who Is Responsible for Compliance?
Responsibility typically sits with those who control or manage premises. Within educational organisations, this may involve:
- School leadership teams
- Academy trust executives
- Estates and facilities managers
- Health and safety leads
- Governors and trustees
Clear accountability will be essential when developing plans and demonstrating readiness.
What Does “Reasonable and Proportionate” Mean?
One of the most important principles behind Martyn’s Law is proportionality.
Security measures should be appropriate to:
- The size of the institution
- The nature of activities conducted on site
- Existing security arrangements
- Potential vulnerabilities
- Visitor and student volumes
What is appropriate for a large multi-site academy trust may differ significantly from the requirements of a small primary school.
Do We Have the Right Technology and Processes?
Many institutions are reviewing whether existing systems support effective incident management, including lockdown procedures, evacuation communications, visitor management, and perimeter security.
Security Technologies Supporting Martyn’s Law Readiness
While compliance is ultimately about preparedness, modern technology can help educational establishments strengthen their overall security posture.
Cloud CCTV
Modern cloud-based CCTV solutions provide improved visibility, simplified management, and secure remote access to footage.
Benefits include:
- Enhanced situational awareness
- Centralised monitoring
- Multi-site management
- Reduced infrastructure requirements
- Automatic updates and maintenance
Access Control Systems
Effective access control helps ensure that only authorised individuals enter specific areas.
Modern systems can provide:
- Visitor management
- Digital credentials
- Audit trails
- Timed access permissions
- Emergency lockdown functionality
Lockdown Solutions
Rapid lockdown capabilities can play a critical role during serious incidents.
Integrated lockdown systems can enable:
- Immediate notification across campus
- Automated door security measures
- Clear instruction delivery
- Faster response coordination
Emergency Communication Platforms
Communication is often one of the biggest challenges during emergencies.
Modern platforms can support:
- Multi-channel notifications
- Mass communications
- Staff alerts
- Incident coordination
- Emergency messaging
Video Analytics and Threat Detection
Advanced analytics can provide greater visibility across educational environments by identifying unusual patterns and supporting security teams with actionable intelligence.
Building a Practical Martyn’s Law Strategy
Effective preparation generally starts with understanding current capabilities.
Educational institutions should consider:
Conducting a Security Review
Assess:
- Physical security measures
- Visitor controls
- Access management
- Emergency procedures
- Communication systems
- Staff awareness levels
Reviewing Emergency Plans
Ensure procedures cover:
- Lockdown scenarios
- Evacuations
- Shelter-in-place arrangements
- Communications during critical incidents
Providing Staff Training
Preparedness depends on people as much as technology.
Staff should understand:
- Reporting procedures
- Emergency roles and responsibilities
- Communication protocols
- Incident response expectations
Identifying Technology Gaps
Legacy security systems may no longer provide the flexibility, visibility, or resilience required by modern educational environments.
Many schools are now using planned technology refresh cycles to move toward cloud-based solutions that improve operational efficiency while supporting security objectives.
Why Schools Are Choosing an Advisory-Led Approach
Every educational environment is different.
Primary schools, secondary schools, colleges, universities, and academy trusts face unique operational requirements, budgets, and risk profiles.
An advisory-led approach focuses on:
- Understanding existing environments
- Identifying proportionate measures
- Aligning improvements with budgets
- Supporting long-term preparedness goals
- Avoiding unnecessary complexity
The objective is not simply compliance. It is creating a safer, more resilient educational environment while maintaining a positive learning experience.
Preparing for 2027 Starts Today
Martyn’s Law represents an important shift toward greater preparedness across publicly accessible spaces, including educational environments.
For schools, colleges, and trusts, the most effective approach is to begin planning early, understand potential obligations, and take proportionate steps that strengthen resilience over time.
By reviewing procedures, assessing security measures, and leveraging modern technologies where appropriate, educational leaders can create safer environments for students, staff, and visitors while preparing confidently for the future.
About Reliance Cloud Connect
Reliance Cloud Connect, part of Reliance High-Tech, helps educational establishments modernise their security infrastructure through cloud-based CCTV, access control, lockdown solutions, intrusion detection, video analytics, and integrated security platforms.
With over 40 years of security expertise and more than 1,000 trusted clients, we support schools, colleges, and academy trusts with practical, scalable solutions designed to enhance safety, improve operational efficiency, and support long-term preparedness.
Speak to our education security specialists today to discuss your school’s Martyn’s Law readiness.
