Little Green Button – the safety technology company behind an industry-leading panic button system – has reported a huge surge in enquiries from the education sector, as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 nears and safety fears grow across UK schools.
The Norfolk-based firm has reported a fivefold increase in enquiries from education providers in the year-to-date, with more than 200 schools across the UK getting in touch.
According to recent research conducted by Little Green Button, more than one-third (36%) of UK-based schoolworkers believe schools have become more dangerous places to work.
Nearly half (45%) of education professionals also reported that they have seen pupils being abusive towards staff, while one-third (34%) have witnessed parents behaving abusively towards school employees. Yet, 58% of respondents said their schools were not prepared for a lockdown or major security incident.
Against this backdrop, schools are looking to strengthen their emergency response processes ahead of new requirements under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn’s Law.
Martyn’s Law will introduce new requirements for venues and premises, and applies to education settings where 200 or more people are reasonably expected to be on site at any one time, meaning the vast majority of UK schools fall within its scope.
While enforcement of the new duties – covering lockdowns, evacuation, invacuation and wider preparedness – is not expected until early to mid-2027, this leaves less than a year for schools to put measures in place to reduce the risk of serious incidents and improve preparedness.
Alex Jay, CEO of Little Green Button, said: “The introduction of Martyn’s Law is driving a lot of interest in our technology from schools across the UK. We have seen a lot more enquiries coming in, as schools look to get ahead of the legislation and its requirements – and schools in the region are leading the way on that front.
“While that is encouraging to see, the findings of our recent research show that schools are already dealing with everyday challenges around staff safety, behaviour and the need to respond quickly when issues arise. High-profile lockdown incidents at schools have understandably increased awareness of the importance and role of Martyn’s Law, as well as the benefits of proactive emergency communication and preparedness.
“On a more positive note, however, it’s great to see more schools actively investing in practical solutions that not only help them communicate quickly and effectively during an emergency, but also help give staff the confidence that they have the right support in place.
“Alongside considering how technology can support faster and clearer communication, my advice to schools, both in response to rising incidents and entering a new regulatory environment, is to focus on preparedness: ringfence time to assess risks across their site, and ensure they have a simple, well-understood lockdown plan in place that’s tested regularly.”
Little Green Button’s technology enables staff to discreetly raise alerts during emergencies, helping schools share information quickly, escalate incidents and coordinate a response.
The company currently supports around 200 schools, universities, colleges and academies across the UK, with demand increasing as education providers look to improve safety procedures and prepare for upcoming regulatory requirements.
