Martyn's Law for independent schools.
Martyn's Law applies to publicly accessible premises used for a qualifying activity where 200+ people may be present at the same time. Primary or secondary education counts as a qualifying use — so whether your school is in scope comes down to how many people could realistically be present, including staff.
When are independent schools in scope?
Assemblies, concerts, open mornings and lettings routinely take a school past 200 including staff.
The threshold counts the most people reasonably expected at once — including staff — even if that only happens occasionally. Check it against fire occupancy, ticketing or past event records, and record your decision either way. Typically the responsible person is the bursar or estates manager.
- Open days, performances, sports days and lettings change who is on site and where.
- You may already have lockdown and evacuation plans — Martyn's Law is about evidencing and reviewing them.
- Staff, pupils, parents and contractors all need to understand their part.
Evacuation
Getting people safely away from the premises.
Invacuation
Moving people into, or to a safer part of, the premises when leaving is not safer.
Lockdown
Restricting access to, or movement within, the premises.
Communication
Alerting people on the premises and sharing clear information quickly.
Does Martyn's Law apply to independent schools?
It can. "Primary or secondary education" is a qualifying use under Schedule 1 of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, so your school is in scope if it is reasonable to expect 200 or more people — including staff — to be present at the same time, even if that only happens from time to time. Assemblies, concerts, open mornings and lettings routinely take a school past 200 including staff.
What does the standard tier actually require for your school?
Standard tier (200–799 people) asks for public protection procedures covering evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication — so far as reasonably practicable — plus notifying the SIA that you are responsible for the premises. There is no requirement to buy equipment, hire security or pay consultants; the Home Office estimates compliance at roughly £330 a year of staff and management time.
Who is the responsible person for independent schools?
The responsible person is whoever has control of the premises in connection with its qualifying use — for independent schools that is typically the bursar or estates manager. They own the scope decision, the procedures and the SIA notification, though the practical work can be shared.
When does your school need to comply?
The Act received Royal Assent in April 2025 and statutory guidance was published in April 2026. Enforcement is expected from Spring 2027, with the SIA's notification portal opening in early 2027. Nothing is legally required yet — but the venues that record their scope decision and procedures now will find notification trivial when it opens.
Get your school sorted in about an hour
PremiseReady walks you through the scope decision, the four procedures and a staff sign-off log — then exports a tidy evidence pack. Enforcement expected Spring 2027.
Start the free check