What Martyn's Law preparation could mean for schools and colleges
Published
A new commentary from broker Marsh looks at how the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 may affect schools and colleges. Many education sites host large events, so it is worth understanding where they could sit before the duties begin.
What happened
The insurance and risk firm Marsh has published its own look at how Martyn's Law is expected to affect schools and colleges. It is an industry commentary, not official guidance, and it joins a growing set of sector-specific discussions as the new law beds in. The duties under the Act are not in force yet. Commencement is expected in spring 2027, with the exact date still to be confirmed.
Why schools and colleges are in the picture
Education sites are not just classrooms. They run open evenings, fairs, concerts, sports fixtures, exams and hall hire to community groups. On busy occasions the number of people present at the same time can be far higher than on a normal school day. Because the tiers are based on how many people may reasonably be expected at once, a venue's busiest events matter.
How the tiers work
The standard tier covers premises where 200 to 799 people may reasonably be expected at the same time. The enhanced tier covers 800 or more. Staff count towards the total. A school site may move between expectations depending on what it is hosting, so it helps to think about peak attendance rather than a typical day.
What to do now
There is nothing to register yet. The Security Industry Authority is the regulator, but its notification process is not live. For now, a sensible step is to estimate your busiest realistic headcount, including staff, and note which tier that would point to. Treat broker articles like this one as background reading, not a substitute for the official guidance or your own professional advice.
This is our plain-English summary. Read the original in full at Marsh.