Martyn’s Law will bring many UK schools within a new public protection framework. But education settings are treated differently from many other premises under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, particularly when it comes to the standard and enhanced tiers.
For ARCs and installers working with schools, understanding those differences matters. As education providers prepare for the new requirements, they will need to consider not only what procedures they have in place, but how those procedures can be communicated and carried out during an incident.
Which schools are covered by Martyn’s Law?
Under Martyn’s Law, premises are generally in scope when 200 or more people may reasonably be expected to be present at the same time.
That means many schools and other education settings will fall within the legislation. However, the Home Office guidance for education settings sets out an important distinction.
Qualifying premises used wholly or mainly for primary, secondary or further education will be treated as standard duty premises, even where 800 or more people may be present. Higher education settings are treated differently and may fall within the enhanced tier depending on their circumstances.
For installers and ARCs serving education customers, that’s an important distinction to understand when discussing what the new legislation means for individual sites.
What will schools actually need to do?
Standard duty premises will need to have appropriate public protection procedures in place that could be expected to reduce the risk of physical harm if an act of terrorism occurs.
For schools, those procedures may include:
- evacuation
- invacuation
- lockdown
- communicating information to people on the premises
The important point is that different incidents can require very different responses. A fire, for example, will typically trigger evacuation. A security threat may require pupils and staff to remain inside, move to another part of the building or receive specific instructions depending on what is happening.
That makes communication an important part of preparedness.
Why existing alarm systems may only be part of the answer
Schools already have established systems and procedures for incidents such as fire and intrusion. Martyn’s Law doesn’t mean those systems suddenly become obsolete.
But schools should consider whether their existing arrangements can support the full range of public protection procedures they may need.
A traditional fire alarm, for example, is designed primarily to communicate a specific response: evacuation. Lockdown or invacuation can require different instructions to be delivered quickly and clearly to staff and pupils.
This is where AddSecure’s AddAlert becomes relevant. AddAlert can support emergency communication through multi-channel notifications, precise location information and predefined alarm routing, helping organisations communicate different instructions for different situations.
For practical guidance on the legal framework, the Martyn’s Law white paper from AddSecure sets out the key duties, tier requirements, and what venues need to have in place before enforcement begins.
Where ARCs and installers fit into the picture
For installers and ARCs, Martyn’s Law creates an opportunity to broaden the conversation with education customers beyond individual security products.
Start with the procedures. How would a lockdown actually be communicated? Who needs to receive instructions? Can different messages be sent depending on the nature or location of an incident? And how do existing alarm, monitoring and communication systems support that response?
The goal isn’t to prescribe one technology as the answer to Martyn’s Law. It’s to help schools understand whether their current systems can support the procedures they will be expected to have.
For schools, preparing for Martyn’s Law isn’t simply about adding another alarm. It’s about making sure those procedures can actually work when they’re needed.
Want to understand how AddAlert supports Martyn’s Law compliance in schools and other venues? Visit the AddAlert page to explore the solution, or download the AddSecure Martyn’s Law white paper for a full breakdown of duties, tiers, and what venues need to have in place before Martyn’s Law comes into force.