Martyn’s Law brings new duties for Aberdeenshire schools
Aberdeenshire Council is taking significant steps towards its obligations around Martyn’s Law.
Officially known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, it came into effect in April last year and is now halfway through a two-year implementation period.
During this time, Aberdeenshire Council has been working to ensure the right procedures are in place, specifically in schools where there is a new ‘protect duty’.
Director of Education and Children’s Services Laurence Findlay said: “The protect duty aims to improve security and preparedness in all our schools and means we must ensure we have procedures in place to reduce harm in the event of a terrorist or serious violent incident.
“This new duty is not about frightening our pupils or parents and carers, but ensuring these additional procedures are in place alongside preexisting practices such as fire drills or severe weather plans.”
Under the new duty, there are three types of procedures that must be put in place. These are:
- Evacuation: getting pupils and staff safely out of school
- Invacuation: moving pupils and staff away from danger to a place at school where there is less risk of physical harm being caused to them
- Lockdown: the process of securing the school to prevent individuals entering or leaving the premises
Alongside this sits communication: ensuring information is provided to pupils and staff as quickly as possible, and providing relevant instructions.
Aberdeenshire Council has written to all school parents and carers to inform them of the new plans and how evacuation, invacuation and lockdown drills will be carried out alongside other emergency plans such as fire drills.
Mr Findlay added: “Just as schools plan for fires or severe weather without necessarily expecting them to occur, we’re supporting readiness for something that is unlikely to occur.
“The Prepare and Protect Framework is grounded in harm reduction. It does not look to prevent all incidents. Instead, it focuses on reducing exposure to harm, improving decision-making and ensuring we have swift, coordinated protective responses.
“For our schools, the challenge lies not just in implementing procedures but in doing so without creating an atmosphere of fear. Schools are places of learning, growth, and for providing our staff and pupils safety.
“My hope is that being open and honest about what these new rules mean in practice, it reassures families that these measures are precautionary, structured, and designed with student wellbeing in mind – particularly when we’re introducing concepts like lockdowns, which may feel unfamiliar or concerning.”
Chair of the Education and Children’s Services Committee Cllr David Keating said: “This is not about turning schools into fortresses. This is about adding procedures for new specific risks to those that schools already plan for.
"So, it’s about ensuring that staff and students know what to do, where to go, and how to respond calmly under pressure in some new low probability incidents.
“I’m extremely proud of the work our officers, school staff and teachers have done to strengthen our approach to safeguarding and risk management.
“Over the coming months, we will see our schools integrating the general evacuation, invacuation, and lockdown procedures into everyday practice appropriate for their specific circumstances.
"This means schools are not only meeting a legal requirement but also equipping our staff and pupils with the confidence and clarity needed to navigate uncertainty.”
What is Martyn’s Law?
It is a new UK-wide Act informally known as Martyn’s Law, but officially known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. It came into effect in April 2025 and there is a two-year implementation period for public organisations, allowing Aberdeenshire Council to ensure the correct procedures are in place. This strengthening of procedures was brought about following the Manchester Arena Attack in 2017 and is named after one of the victims, Martyn Hett, whose mother, Figen Murray, has been driving the act forward through her campaigning.
What does it mean for schools?
For us in school, it introduces a new ‘protect duty’ which aims to improve security and preparedness. This means we must ensure we have procedures in place to reduce harm in the event of a terrorist or serious violent incident.
What do they have to do?
Under our duty, there are four types of procedures that must be put in place. These are:
· Evacuation: getting pupils and staff safely out of school;
· Invacuation: moving pupils and staff away from danger to a place at school where there is less risk of physical harm being caused to them;
· Lockdown: the process of securing the school to prevent individuals entering or leaving the premises;
· Communication: ensuring information is provided to pupils and staff as quickly as possible and providing relevant instructions.
Why are you introducing this now?
In April 2026 the UK Government published statutory guidance. This guidance assists those responsible for premises and events to understand the requirements set out in the legislation and how they may be met in practice. Whilst there is no legal requirement to comply with the legislation until it comes into force, those that fall within scope of the Act – in this instance, schools under Aberdeenshire Council control – are encouraged to begin considering the requirements before commencement.
Does this mean you’ll be carrying out American-style drills?
As stated above, there are three different procedures that we’ve added to existing ones, such as fire drills and severe weather arrangements. Our aim is to provide a structured and proportionate approach to preparedness in school. It supports readiness for when Martyn’s Law is in full effect, focuses on a protective response, and reinforces calm and confident preparedness, rather than fear.
What will they be like? Will pupils be hiding under their desks?
Each school will assess and discuss how best to practice the plans in their schools. For some that maybe a discussion and talking to children about what they would do if instructed, and in some schools and with older learners, this may involve going to a ‘safe space’ within the school. However, we will make sure these scenarios are not frightening for children.
Where will pupils go during one of these drills?
Each school will be different, and over the next 12 months, staff will be visiting all of our schools, focusing on credible, realistic scenarios and identifying practical control measures, and areas for ‘safe spaces’.
What will you be telling pupils about why they’re doing this? How will you be phrasing it?
Each headteacher will receive guidance on how to talk about this appropriately with the children to ensure we do not raise alarm and fear in them. This isn’t about bringing up specific scenarios; this is about the overarching plans that are in place to keep everyone safe and running through what we will do and how we will do it.
Is there an increased risk to pupils in Aberdeenshire?
Parents and carers may worry this signals an increased or immediate threat to their children. At the end of April, the UK terrorism threat level was raised from ‘substantial’ to ‘severe’, meaning an attack is now considered highly likely. It is important, though, to consider that context carefully. Prior to this change, the threat level had remained at “substantial” for around four years, and since its introduction in 2006, it has moved between severe and critical at different times. Our task is to remain alert, not alarmed, and to avoid complacency. That balance is central to how we are approaching Martyn’s Law in our schools.
Have you experienced any issues recently where you’ve had to carry out these drills for real?
No. The Prepare and Protect Framework provides a structured, proportionate and safeguarding‑aligned approach to protective preparedness in schools. It supports readiness for Martyn’s Law, focuses on harm reduction and protective response, reinforces calm, confident preparedness rather than fear. The intent is that it embeds resilience into everyday practice. By building on existing strengths and providing practical tools, the framework helps schools demonstrate that they are prepared, reflective and responsible in protecting their communities.
How often will you be carrying out these drills?
We anticipate that a drill will be carried out annually.
How are you communicating this to pupils/parents?
A letter outlining the changes has been issued to parents and carers alongside an information campaign on our news site and social media pages. Head teachers have also had discussions around the changes with pupils to ensure everyone understands the issue.
Are specific schools carrying out specific drills i.e. are certain schools expected to be more ‘at risk’?
No. Each school will be different, and over the next 12 months, staff will be visiting all of our schools, focusing on credible, realistic scenarios and identifying practical control measures, and areas for ‘safe spaces’.
Can we view specific school plans?
These plans form part of the school’s wider emergency and security arrangements and contain security sensitive information. For this reason we are unable to share copies of these assessments and plans. Please be assured that robust and proportionate plans are in place, are regularly reviewed and are overseen as part of the school’s wider safeguarding and emergency response arrangements.
Can we view any of your overarching plans?
For security reasons we will not be sharing individual plans for schools outwith those who need to know them. Doing so would compromise the security and safety of our schools.