Martyn’s Law: what schools, colleges and universities need to do now 

Martyn’s Law – formally the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 – introduces new legal duties for publicly accessible premises across the UK, including education settings. The Act received Royal Assent in April 2025 and has a clear lead-in period before enforcement. With full compliance required by April 2027, now is the time for facilities teams, caretakers, engineers and procurement managers to plan, prioritise and act. 

Who is in scope? 

The law takes a tiered approach based on the number of people reasonably expected to be on site at the same time (including staff): 

• Standard duty premises (200–799 people): Focused on proportionate procedures and staff preparedness. This is about sensible, low-cost steps and clear roles, not major structural changes. 

• Enhanced duty premises (800+ people): Additional obligations around documented risk assessments, security planning and appropriate protective measures. 

Statutory guidance will set out what “proportionate” looks like by size and risk profile, but the direction of travel is clear: strengthen procedures, brief your teams and make sure your systems support both evacuation and invacuation. 

Practical challenges in education – and how Fire Guard Services can help 

Busy education environments have unique pressures. Below are common issues we encounter, with practical solutions we design, supply, install and maintain. 

1) Confusion during emergency alerts
Using the same bell or tone for lesson changes, fire evacuation and lockdown can delay the right actions. Distinct alerts are essential. We recommend voice sounders with pre-recorded, plain-language messages (for example, “Evacuate by the nearest safe exit” or “Initiate lockdown, stay in classrooms”). These integrate with existing fire alarm/PA systems and support both evacuation and invacuation. 

2) False alarms and tampering
Accidental or deliberate activations of manual call points disrupt learning and erode trust in alarms. Protective call-point covers deter misuse while keeping emergency access quick and obvious. We can also review call-point placement and lines of sight to reduce nuisance activations without compromising safety. 

3) Intruder or external threats
In a lockdown or invacuation, rapid compartmentation keeps people safer. Electromagnetic door holders linked to the fire alarm release on activation, allowing fire doors to close and create safer zones—without hindering day-to-day circulation. Specifying certified devices ensures reliability and supports audit requirements. 

4) Inclusive alerting
Everyone must be able to perceive and understand alerts. Visual alarm devices (VADs), pagers or app-based notifications help pupils, staff and visitors with hearing impairments, and are valuable in noisy areas such as workshops, performance spaces and sports halls. 

5) Documentation and training
Martyn’s Law places real emphasis on preparedness. We help you produce concise emergency action cards, up-to-date site plans and staff training so your team knows exactly what to do—and you can evidence it during audits and inspections. 

What we deliver 

Whether you manage a single school or a multi-building campus, Fire Guard Services can help you get ahead: 

• System reviews and gap analysis aligned to the standard/enhanced duties. 

• Voice sounders and visual alerts with distinct tones or spoken messages for evacuation, invacuation and lockdown. 

• Tamper-resistant call points and protective covers, installed and commissioned to the relevant British Standards. 

• Door control solutions (holders, closers and interfaces) for swift compartmentation and smooth everyday operation. 

• Integration with legacy systems and power resilience, including batteries and standby time. 

• Training and documentation to support drills, audits and regulator engagement. 

Start now, stay proportionate 

You don’t need to over-engineer. For most education sites, the priority is clear, well-rehearsed procedures backed by equipment that makes the right action obvious—without adding unnecessary complexity. Beginning now lets you phase improvements around term dates, secure budget in good time and avoid last-minute disruption. 

Let’s talk. If you’re reviewing your current systems or planning ahead for Martyn’s Law, we can survey your site, prioritise actions and deliver dependable, cost-effective solutions—backed by clear paperwork for your records. Call us on 01582 469000.