Schools and Martyn's Law: how education settings can start preparing

Counter Terror Business has published a piece on getting schools ready for Martyn's Law — the everyday name for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. It looks at how education settings can begin thinking about their preparations ahead of the duties starting. The Act received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, but its requirements are not yet active.

Schools often double as community spaces. They host assemblies, fairs, performances, sports events and weekend lettings, and many also hire out halls to outside groups. When a setting may reasonably expect 200 or more people at the same time, it could fall within scope once the Act commences. Remember the headcount includes staff, not just visitors or pupils. Standard tier covers 200 to 799 people; enhanced tier covers 800 or more.

The thinking that applies to schools applies to other community venues too — church halls, village halls, sports clubs and event spaces. If your site is used in different ways at different times, it helps to consider the busiest realistic occasion when working out which tier you might sit in.

There is nothing to file yet. The Security Industry Authority will be the regulator, but its notification process is not live. Commencement is expected in spring 2027, with the exact date still to be confirmed. For now, a sensible step is to get a rough sense of your busiest expected attendance, including staff, and to start familiarising the people who run your premises with the basics. This is preparation, not a legal requirement that is enforceable today.