Everyday school use
Where the premises are used for the education of children, the qualifying capacity is generally assessed on staff and other adults present rather than pupils. Many schools therefore sit outside the duty on ordinary teaching days.
Martyn's Law for schools and colleges.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 reaches education settings mainly through the events they host and the public they invite on site. This page sets out where schools and colleges are likely to fall, and how that connects to their insurance position.
Guidance for broking discussions, not legal advice or a regulatory determination. The Security Industry Authority is the regulator for Martyn's Law, and the duty comes into force in April 2027.
When it applies to a school
Public events on site
Open evenings, fairs, fêtes, productions, prize-givings, sports days and lettings bring members of the public onto the site. Where 200 or more people may be present, the event is likely to be in scope.
Lettings and hire
Hiring out a hall, sports pitch or theatre to a third party does not remove the school's own interest in how the event is run — and the paperwork matters if something goes wrong.
Colleges and larger campuses
Sixth-form colleges, FE colleges and multi-building campuses with public access often reach Standard tier on ordinary operating days, and Enhanced tier for large public events.
Standard tier
200 – 799 people
- Procedures for evacuation
- Procedures for invacuation (moving people to safer internal locations)
- Procedures for lockdown
- Procedures for communicating with staff, pupils, visitors and the public
- Terrorism-awareness training appropriate to each role
- A named Responsible Person accountable for the above
Enhanced tier
800+ people
- A documented assessment of the risk of an act of terrorism and its consequences
- Public protection measures — monitoring, movement of people, physical safety, security of information
- A written and maintained document, provided to the regulator
- A designated Senior Responsible Individual at senior level
Enhanced duties sit on top of the Standard tier requirements, not instead of them.
What it means for your cover
Public and products liability
Events on school premises expand the population of people you owe a duty of care to. Limits and event extensions should be checked before the calendar is signed off, not after.
Governor and senior leader exposure
Decisions about scope, tiering and sign-off are taken by named individuals. Management liability cover is where defence costs for those decisions usually sit.
Contractors, stewards and volunteers
Stewarding, security and volunteer marshalling at school events need licence checks, insurance evidence and records. Gaps here tend to become the school's problem.
Cancellation and abandonment
A security incident or credible threat can close an event. Whether that loss is insured depends on the wording arranged in advance.
Official sources
- Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 — legislation.gov.uk
- Martyn's Law factsheets — GOV.UK
- ProtectUK — counter-terrorism advice and toolkits
Further reading is collected on our Useful Guides page.
Where does your school sit?
The tier assessment scores your exposure and shows the gaps to close before April 2027.