How Martyn’s Law will affect education settings
Updated 10 October 2025
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Martyn’s Law
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (the act) became law on 3 April 2025. It is commonly known as Martyn’s Law, and is named in honour of Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack. Martyn’s mother, Figen Murray, campaigned over many years for a new law to better protect the public in the event of a terror attack.
Implementation
The government intends for there to be an implementation period of at least 24 months before the act comes into force.
About the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025
The act will improve protective security and organisational preparedness across the UK. It requires that those responsible for certain premises and events to consider how they would respond to a terrorist attack and consider appropriate steps to reduce vulnerability to terrorist attacks – this includes education settings.
The act sets out a tiered approach that is based on the number of people reasonably expected to be present at the same time. Premises that reasonably expect 200 or more people to be present will fall into either the standard or enhanced tier.
The standard tier applies to premises that can reasonably expect between 200 to 799 individuals to be present.
The enhanced tier applies to premises that expect 800 or more individuals to be present.
Certain events will also be drawn into scope of the enhanced tier if 800 or more individuals are expected to attend, it is publicly accessible and there are entry controls in place.
There are special considerations in place for premises used for early years or primary, secondary or further education. Such premises will remain in the standard tier even if 800 or more individuals are expected to be present. Similarly, events held at such premises will not be drawn into scope as qualifying events, but the premises would remain in the standard tier.
The role of the Security Industry Authority (SIA), an arm’s length body of the Home Office, will be to provide support and guidance and take enforcement action to address non-compliance.
Why we need this legislation
The 2023 counter terrorism strategy, CONTEST summarises the current threat facing the UK as ‘enduring and evolving’, with a domestic threat that ‘is less predictable and harder to detect and investigate’. Terrorists have targeted a wide range of people and places in recent years. It is not always possible to predict where in the UK an attack might happen, or the type of premises or events that could be impacted – either directly (as the target of an attack) or indirectly (by being located near to the target of an attack).
While the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act is Home Office led, the Department for Education (DfE) have supported the introduction of the act. We have worked with the Home Office to set out the policy for education settings.
What early years and education settings need to know
The tiered approach is based on the number of people (staff and learners) reasonably expected to be present, but some settings will have a special consideration.
Early years, schools and further education
Early years, primary, secondary and further education settings have a special consideration in place. This means they will be in the standard tier, even if they expect 800 or more individuals to be present. Enhanced duty requirements will not apply to premises used for early years, primary, secondary or further education.
DfE-funded independent training providers will fall under this special consideration and will be in the standard tier, even if they expect 800 or more individuals.
Privately owned independent training providers will not fall under the special consideration. These providers will be treated the same as other premises in scope of the act and their tier will depend on the number of individuals reasonably expected to be present.
Higher education
Higher education establishments will not fall under the special consideration. They will fall into the standard tier if it is reasonable to expect 200 to 799 individuals to be present, and the enhanced tier if it is reasonable to expect 800 or more individuals.
Out of scope for fewer than 200 people
Settings that can reasonably expect below 200 individuals to be present do not fall within scope of the act, but we encourage all settings to have preparedness plans for the safety of their learners and staff.
When the legislation comes into force
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. The government intends for there to be an implementation period of at least 24 months before the act comes into force. This period will enable those responsible for premises and events to have sufficient time to understand their new obligations, and to plan and prepare accordingly.
While those that fall within the scope of the act may wish to consider the requirements, there is no requirement to comply with them until the legislation comes into force. The government will publish statutory guidance during the 24-month implementation period.
In the meantime, we encourage all settings to have in place preparedness plans for the safety of their learners and staff.
What you will need to do to comply with the act
All settings within scope of the legislation will need to have in place, so far as is reasonably practicable, public protection procedures. This includes:
- evacuation (to get people out of the premises)
- invacuation (to move people to a safe place)
- lockdown (to secure premises against attackers)
- communication (to alert people on premises to the danger)
All settings within scope of the act will have a responsible person and must notify the SIA, as the regulator. For qualifying premises, the responsible person is the person who has control of the premises in connection with their relevant Schedule 1 use. For example, for a primary education institution (other than those used as a pupil referral unit), the responsible person will be the governing body or, where there is no governing body, the proprietor of the institution. For premises in the enhanced tier, they will need to appoint a designated senior individual.
What we are doing
We are working with the National Counter Terrorism Security Office and the Home Office to help the sector to implement the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act. This includes:
- lunch and learn webinars
- information sheets
- resources for good security practice across education settings
- updates for the sector throughout the implementation period
- addressing policy issues for the education sector
The Home Office, SIA and DfE will publish statutory guidance during the 24-month implementation period.
Third-party providers
DfE does not endorse any third-party products or providers offering paid services to enhance security measures and preparedness for education settings.