Martyn’s Law: Safety First for Schools

In the tragic aftermath of the Manchester Arena terrorist attack in which 22 people lost their lives when a lone terrorist detonated an IED, the (then) Government moved to introduce new legislation designed to mitigate the risk of future terror attacks in public places (including schools).

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn’s Law in tribute to Martyn Hett (one of those individuals tragically killed in the attack) will require public premises, where 200 or more individuals may be present, to have plans in place to keep people safe in the event of an attack.

Larger premises and events where 800 or more people will be present are also affected by the move. Management teams are required to take the necessary steps to reduce such venues’ vulnerability to acts of terrorism by having surveillance installed or carrying out bag searches or vehicle checks when and where appropriate.

The impact of Martyn’s Law for almost 25,000 schools across England will be significant with thousands of sites and education facilities moving to improve security protocols and implementing robust emergency procedures to prevent and reduce the harm of terror attacks.

All of this comes at a time when education leadership teams face tough financial constraints, while in parallel looking to maintain their ongoing commitment to ensure pupils are free to learn and develop in an environment that remains as safe and secure as possible.

IP audio speakers 

One solution for hard-pressed education sector decision-makers is to install the latest in Internet-powered audio speaker systems. Today’s systems are at the cutting edge of reliable, efficient and future-proof networking solutions, providing a wide range of security and operational advantages for staff and leadership teams alike.

They deliver significant financial benefits thanks to simplified installation, cabling routing and network infrastructure configuration, while state-of-the-art control technology offers a whole host of quick and easy-to-use functions and features at the end user’s fingertips: all available and managed from a central point.

Any good system can make a huge difference in ensuring that important announcements and notifications are heard clearly throughout the school. However, not all PA systems are created equal.

Before making a decision about which PA system to install, there are a few key points to be considered.

Site-wide coverage

An effective audio speaker system should be able to reach everyone across the entire campus. When evaluating potential systems, consider the size and layout of your grounds and make sure that the system is powerful enough to cover the entire area.

Also, and with expert help, consider the location and positioning of speakers. Ensure that they will be able to reach all areas including hallways and classrooms, as well as outdoor spaces and playing fields.

Simple-to-use

The specified system should be easy for anyone to use, including principals, administrators and other members of staff. Choose a system that’s reliable, simple to operate and has intuitive interfaces, such as clearly labelled buttons and easy-to-use future proof software and capabilities.

Can the system send emergency alerts, schedule bells and upgrade firmware through a single dashboard?

Visual link-up

Your system is not only an audio system. It can also be part of an eye-catching one. As the visual aspect of an audio speaker system becomes increasingly apparent, particularly so when it comes to emergency communication, quick and clear visual signage can be just as important as clear audio announcements.

Consider incorporating visual signage with your PA system via IP displays, which can be used to display emergency messages, school announcements and other important information. This could be particularly useful in schools where some students may be non-English speakers or for compliance purposes for the deaf and hard of hearing students, where clear visual messages are needed.

In the event of an emergency

If an emergency is declared, it’s crucial that the school can be quickly and effectively locked down. An IP audio system can quickly and clearly broadcast emergency announcements and instructions.

Look for systems that are compatible with panic buttons and other emergency notification systems and allow for easy switching between pre-recorded emergency messages and live announcements.

Today’s systems allow for integrated emergency paging and announcement functionality. For example, when a panic button is pressed, an emergency message will be immediately broadcasted via the system.

Having an emergency system integrated with the audio speaker system will save precious time in emergency situations.

Is the price right?

Audio speakers are a beneficial investment. Make sure you consider the whole cost of the system, including the initial purchase price, installation costs and ongoing maintenance expenses. It’s important to remember that a high-quality system is a valuable asset that will serve the school for many years.

Speakers linked together via a secure network and connected to a central control point in the office (where an operator can implement a partial or full-scale school lockdown at the touch of a button depending on the level of the threat or violence) are a cost-effective option for hard-pressed school budgets.

Making a difference

IP audio speaker systems can make a huge difference to school communications, reaching every corner of the campus to help keep people safe and secure in the event of an emergency.

Modern IP technology makes them easy-to-use for schools, delivering scalability and ensuring they can be used for other applications such as public address (PA) or broadcasting music, while in-built system scalability can accommodate any expansion or change in future requirements and infrastructure.

In short, properly evaluating and choosing the right system will make communication more efficient and effective for everyone in the school.

Nick Plumb is Sales and Marketing Manager at Netgenium (https://netgenium.co.uk/)