Martyn’s Law for Schools & colleges

What to think about

• Count pupils, staff, contractors and visitors present at the same time — assemblies, sports days, parents' evenings and productions are your peaks.
• Early years, primary, secondary and further education stay standard tier even above 800; higher education (universities) is not excepted.
• The responsible person is usually the governing body, academy trust or local authority that controls the premises.
• Community use and lettings of the buildings out of hours may change who holds the duty for those events.
• Martyn's Law asks you to extend existing safeguarding and lockdown plans, not replace them.

Procedure focus

What evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication tend to hinge on in schools and colleges.

• Joining Martyn's Law procedures up with the existing lockdown and invacuation plan
• An all-staff communication signal that works in classrooms, halls and outdoors
• Reunification planning for pupils after an evacuation
• Briefing supply staff, contractors and lettings hirers on the procedures

Common evidence gaps

The process gaps venues in this sector most often need to close — each one fixable, and worth a dated record once it is.

• GapCapacity counted from roll numbers alone, ignoring staff, visitors and event peaks
• GapMartyn's Law treated as separate from the existing lockdown plan instead of joined up
• GapOut-of-hours lettings running with no briefing on the school's procedures
• GapReunification after an evacuation never planned or practised
• GapA higher-education site assuming the standard-tier special case applies to it