1. "Large schools fall into the enhanced tier"
The enhanced tier applies to premises where 800 or more people are expected at once, and some articles assume large secondary schools fall into it. They do not. The Department for Education confirms that schools in scope sit in the standard tier regardless of size.
What it means for you: if a document or supplier talks about enhanced tier duties for your school, it is working from the wrong starting point.
2. "Schools must install CCTV, access control or bag searches"
Physical security measures belong to the enhanced tier. The standard tier duty is about procedures: what people do. The Act does not require schools to buy equipment, employ security staff or alter their buildings, and the statutory guidance is clear that its additional recommendations are not statutory requirements.
What it means for you: you may choose to improve your site security, but Martyn's Law does not require it.
3. "Schools have to submit their procedures to the SIA"
Schools must notify the SIA that they are in scope and who is responsible. They do not send their procedures to the SIA, and the SIA does not approve them in advance. The SIA can inspect, usually with at least 72 hours' notice, and will look at whether reasonable steps have been taken. Our article on notifying the SIA explains what you will be asked.
What it means for you: put your procedures in place and keep them up to date. There is no approval to wait for.
4. "It only counts pupils" or "small schools are out of scope"
The Act applies where it is reasonable to expect 200 or more people on the premises at the same time, from time to time. Pupils, staff and visitors all count. A school with 150 pupils and staff on a normal day is in scope if a performance, sports day or open evening brings 200 or more people on site.
A school is only outside the Act if it can never expect 200 or more people there at once.
What it means for you: work out the largest number of people your school can expect on site at any one time, events included, and keep a note of how you reached the figure. The SIA will ask for both.
5. "The responsible person is the headteacher" or "the local authority"
The responsible person is the governing body for a maintained school, the academy trust for an academy, or the proprietor for an independent school. The headteacher or business manager usually does the work, under a delegation. The Department for Education's guidance does not make the local authority the responsible person for maintained schools.
What it means for you: a short governance decision, recorded in the minutes, settles who is accountable and who does the day-to-day work.
6. "Staff need an accredited counter-terrorism course"
There is no mandated training or accredited course at the standard tier. What matters is that staff know what each procedure means and what to do, which a clear briefing and regular practice achieve.
What it means for you: brief every member of staff, including supply staff and new starters, and keep a record of when you did.
Why the confusion?
Some of it comes from guidance written for larger venues being applied to schools. Some comes from articles published before the Home Office statutory guidance appeared in April 2026. Either way, the position for a school is simpler than much of what is written suggests: you are standard tier, you need four procedures written down so every member of staff knows them, a clear responsible person, and a notification to the SIA once the law is in force.
For the full picture, read Martyn's Law for schools: what you need to do.
