The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, commonly called Martyn’s Law, is landmark UK legislation. It sets new standards for venue security, making sure businesses are securing their sites against the threat of terrorism, keeping premises protected.
Under this law, many public-facing premises, including schools and universities, must assess risk and take action. For the Education sector, this means securing gates, turnstiles and access control systems.
You need to choose the right solutions for your site, from access control, speed gates, barriers and turnstiles. These tools boost safety and support compliance. In this blog, we explore Martyn’s Law, its impact on schools, and how we can help support you.
What is Martyn’s Law? Understanding the 2025 Act
Martyn’s Law requires certain venues to complete risk assessments and install protective measures. The goal is simple: reduce vulnerability to terrorist attacks. Schools and colleges often fall under this law’s enhanced duty tier. Key requirements are:
- Conduct formal risk assessments
- Train staff in terrorism security
- Install appropriate gate security and premises protection
- Maintain records and compliance evidence
By using automated systems, venues can respond quicker to incidents and improve daily operations.
Why education settings need to prioritise venue security
Schools and colleges are open spaces. They see students, staff, parents and visitors every day – this volume increases risk. Martyn’s Law urges:
- Controlled access points
- Monitored entrances and exits
- Rapid lockdown capabilities
The education sector must take terrorism security seriously, it’s just about compliance, it’s about protecting human lives and creating community trust across core public services.
Premises protection in education with secure access solutions
Access control systems including card readers, PIN pads and mobile credentials help regulate who enters a site. This allows only authorised individuals through entry points, making sure your site is kept secure and visitors are monitored.
These systems support:
- Secure perimeter protection
- Visitor vetting and signing-in
- Real-time monitoring through automated logs
Automated solutions are scalable. A primary school may just need simple turnstiles, whereas a large university might integrate speed gates, barriers and CCTV into their security strategy.
Smart gate security: turnstiles, speed gates & barriers
Gate security is at the heart of premises protection, and different systems suit different education settings:
- Tripod Turnstiles
These turnstiles are ideal for reception areas. They allow one person at a time and can integrate with access control. - Full‑Height Turnstiles
Full-height turnstiles offer a physical barrier at entrances. They prevent tailgating and control high-traffic flows. - Speed Gates
Speed gates provide fast, secure access in halls or busy corridors. They work well when paired with readers and alarms. - Automatic Barriers
Automatic barriers protect vehicle access to parking and drop-off zones. Integration makes sure that only authorised vehicles can enter.
Each of these options contributes to overall venue security and they fit into a safety strategy under Martyn’s Law. Better yet, they also offer operational efficiency, reducing manual guarding.
How we help venues with security & compliance
We’re a leader in automation and security, supporting clients from consultation and design to installation and maintenance. We specialise in:
- Securing educational premises with functional systems
- Tailoring access control, barriers and gates to each site’s size and needs
- Providing regular maintenance and training to ensure ongoing compliance
- Offering digital logs and reporting to help with audits and risk reviews
Our team works closely with schools to meet Martyn’s Law standards, offering a broad range of solutions to help venues move from a reactive to proactive security strategy.
How schools & colleges should prepare for Martyn’s Law compliance
Here’s a simple checklist for education sites to follow. Beginning with a risk assessment:
- Conduct a risk assessment – Identify vulnerable areas like entrances, car parks, or open walkways.
- Map entry points – Decide where to install turnstiles, gates and barriers.
- Select automated systems – Work with our security experts for tailored advice and recommendations on which solutions are appropriate for your site.
- Integrate systems – Connect access control to your security infrastructure.
- Train staff – Make sure your team understands how systems work and that everyone complies with the law.
- Test and document – Use logs and reports to show implementation and effectiveness.
- Maintain systems – Carry out regular servicing and audits across your solutions to keep everything working and lawful.
Our team will conduct a full site audit and recommend a tailored security strategy based on your premises, risk profile and traffic flow.
Protect your site today with a trusted partner
Martyn’s Law places new demands on UK education settings. Under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, schools and colleges must improve venue security and premises protection. Automated solutions, such as gate security, turnstiles, speed gates and barriers are essentials tools to get your building and premises prepared.
EA Group offers tailored systems with end-to-end service, helping meet their legal duties, protect their communities and run a smooth and efficient site.
Make sure you’re staying ahead of the evolving security compliance landscape. Book a consultation with our team to assess your site and begin securing your premises today, before the compliance clock runs out.
