Resources
Practical security intelligence for UK schools & public‑sector estates
Assess your security. Understand your risks. Prepare for what happens next.
Free tools, practical guidance, checklists and original thinking for the people responsible for physical security in schools, trusts and public buildings. No registration, and no sales call unless you ask for one.
Start here
Not sure where to begin?
Pick the line that sounds most like you.
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I'm responsible for a school
The complete guide: the law, the technology, the procedures and the budget.
Start with School Security Security for schools -
I'm responsible for a MAT
One standard across every school in the trust, without ripping out what works.
Start with MAT Security Estates Why a unified approach matters -
I've inherited an existing security system
Any make, any age. Someone takes responsibility for the system you already have.
Start with Maintenance Takeover Guide: inherited systems -
I'm responsible for an estate
How you know your systems and procedures will work next time, and how to evidence it.
Start with Security Assurance Public-sector security guide -
I'm concerned about resilience
What keeps working when the power, broadband or network fails.
Start with Security Resilience The Power-Off Checklist -
I need to understand Martyn's Law
Find your tier and your duties in a few minutes.
Start with the Martyn's Law Assessment Read the full guide
Featured
Worth reading first
- The Power-Off Checklist Will your security work when the power or broadband fails? Checklist · Printable · 7 min read Explore
- Maintenance Takeover You don't always need a new security system. Guide · 7 min read Explore
- The Fyrfly Preparedness Model Protected is not the same as prepared. Framework · Prevent · Detect · Verify · Respond · Recover Explore
- See, Check and Notify Technology is only one layer of detection. Guide · 7 min read Explore
01Tools & Assessments
Check where you stand.
Free, practical tools to help you assess your current security provision. They run in your browser, need no registration and do not end in a sales call.
Martyn's Law
- Assessment Martyn's Law Readiness Assessment Work out whether your premises are in scope, which tier applies and what the duties mean for you. Run the assessment
- Live tracker Martyn's Law Tracker Where the Act actually stands: commencement status and a verified timeline, checked weekly. Check the status
- Free tool Security Risk Management Tool Work through the official ProtectUK risk management approach for your site, step by step. Open the tool
Policies and procedures
- Free tool · AI Security Policy Health Check Upload your security policy for a structured review against Martyn's Law, UK GDPR and DfE guidance. Check your policy
- Free tool Lockdown Procedure Generator Build a school lockdown procedure from the Department for Education template. Build a procedure
- Free tool School CCTV Policy Generator Draft a CCTV policy, privacy notice and DPIA summary to adapt for your school. Generate a policy
Gaps, patterns and evidence
- Assessment Security Compliance Checker A gap analysis across KCSiE, UK GDPR, fire and CCTV guidance, showing what to fix first. Run the check
- Free tool Incident Pattern Analyser Paste your incident log and see the times, places and trends hidden in it. Analyse your log
- Assessment Secure by Design Checklist An interactive preparation checklist against the government's Secure by Design framework. Start the checklist
Planning and budgeting
- Free tool Security Cost Estimator Budget ranges for CCTV and access control, including the whole-life cost most quotes leave out. Estimate costs
- Free tool Security Zone Planner Map your site into zones, mark the problem areas and see what each one needs. Plan your zones
- Free tool Your Site Tool Upload a site plan and mark where you want cameras and controlled doors. Plot your site
- Free tool Wireless Network Planner Sketch point-to-point wireless links across a site plan and save the result as a PDF. Plan a network
Need an independent assessment? Explore Security Audits
02Guides & Insight
Understand the problem before you buy the solution.
Practical guidance on physical security, preparedness, resilience and governance for schools, MATs and public-sector organisations.
Cornerstone guides
- Cornerstone guide The Complete Guide to School Security in 2026 The law, the technology, procedures and budgets, in one reference for headteachers and business managers. 18 min read Read the guide
- Cornerstone guide The Complete Guide to Public Sector Security in 2026 Procurement, equipment compliance, Martyn's Law and risk-led design for estates and facilities teams. 20 min read Read the guide
- Cornerstone guide Martyn's Law Guide: Scope, Tiers and Duties Every official resource in one place: scope, tiers, the responsible person, procedures, penalties and myths. Pillar guide Read the guide
- Cornerstone guide Preparedness: What Happens When Something Goes Wrong? Why good equipment is not the same as being ready, and how to close the gap. 10 min read Read the guide
Browse by topic
- Guide · 8 min read · 1 Oct 2026 What Should a School Not Publish Online? A Page-by-Page Website Security Check School Security · Preparedness & Resilience
- Guide · 7 min read · 1 Oct 2026 Inherited School Security Systems: What to Do When Nobody Knows How They Work School Security · MATs & Estates
- Guide · 11 min read · 30 Sep 2026 Drawing the Boundaries: Martyn's Law Across a Complex NHS Estate Public Sector · Compliance & Governance
- Guide · 10 min read · 21 Sep 2026 Preparedness: What Happens When Something Goes Wrong? Preparedness & Resilience · School Security
- Guide · 11 min read · 21 Sep 2026 What Is Security Resilience? A Practical Checklist for Schools Preparedness & Resilience · School Security
- Guide · 7 min read · 21 Sep 2026 See, Check and Notify for Schools: The Free Training That Turns Your Staff Into Your Best Sensor Preparedness & Resilience · School Security
- Guide · 9 min read · 21 Sep 2026 Security-Minded Communications for Schools: A Plain Guide to What You Share Preparedness & Resilience · School Security
- Guide · 10 min read · 21 Sep 2026 Solar-Powered CCTV: Building Security Resilience Without the Grid Preparedness & Resilience · CCTV & Technology
- Guide · 5 min read · Sep 2026 How to Buy School Security Without Being Sold To School Security · MATs & Estates · Compliance & Governance
- Insight · 6 min read · Sep 2026 Security and Welcome: The Open Campus Problem in Independent Schools School Security
- Insight · 6 min read · Sep 2026 Don't Let the Security Industry Sell You Martyn's Law Compliance & Governance · School Security
- Insight · 5 min read · Sep 2026 You Cannot Protect Every Building, So Stop Trying Public Sector · MATs & Estates
- Guide · 11 min read · Jul 2026 The Complete Guide to KCSiE Security Compliance for UK Schools Compliance & Governance · School Security
- Guide · 9 min read · Jun 2026 How to Write a School Security Specification That Gets You What You Actually Need School Security · MATs & Estates · CCTV & Technology
- Guide · 8 min read · Jun 2026 Independent School Security: Why Fee-Paying Schools Face Different Risks School Security
- Guide · 12 min read · May 2026 Martyn's Law for Schools: A Practical Implementation Guide Compliance & Governance · School Security
- Guide · 6 min read Martyn's Law and the Protect Duty: What Schools and Public Sector Organisations Need to Do Now Compliance & Governance · Public Sector · School Security
- Guide · 8 min read What Your Incident Log Is Telling You (And How to Read It) School Security · Preparedness & Resilience
- Guide · 7 min read Why School Holidays Are Your Highest-Risk Period and What to Do About It School Security · Preparedness & Resilience
- Insight · 7 min read School Security Done Right: Why Technology Alone Is Never the Answer School Security · Preparedness & Resilience
- Guide · 6 min read The Five Security Threats Every School Faces, and What to Do About Each One School Security
- Guide · 5 min read What a Security Site Survey Actually Tells You, and Why Schools Should Request One School Security
- Insight · 6 min read Security Across a Multi-Academy Trust: The Case for a Unified Approach MATs & Estates
- Guide · 5 min read Making the Financial Case for CCTV to Your Governors and Finance Committee Compliance & Governance · MATs & Estates · School Security
- Guide · 5 min read Your School CCTV System Is Only as Good as Its Last Service CCTV & Technology · MATs & Estates · School Security
- Guide · 7 min read How to Choose a School CCTV System: What the Spec Sheet Won't Tell You CCTV & Technology · School Security
- Guide · 7 min read Access Control in Schools: How It Works, What to Look For and Why It Matters CCTV & Technology · School Security
- Guide · 6 min read Integrated Security Systems: What It Really Means to Connect CCTV and Access Control CCTV & Technology
- Guide · 6 min read From Passive Recording to Active Intelligence: What AI-Enabled CCTV Means in Practice CCTV & Technology
- Guide · 9 min read · 6 Oct 2026 CCTV Privacy in Schools: What You Need to Know Compliance & Governance · CCTV & Technology
- Guide · 8 min read · 6 Oct 2026 CCTV and Safeguarding in Schools School Security · CCTV & Technology
- Guide · 6 min read CCTV and Data Protection: The ICO Requirements Every Organisation Must Meet Compliance & Governance · CCTV & Technology
- Guide · 6 min read Cyber Security for Schools and Public Sector Bodies: The Basics to Get Right CCTV & Technology · Compliance & Governance
- Guide · 5 min read Wireless Networks for CCTV: Extending Coverage Without the Trenching Bill CCTV & Technology · Public Sector
- Guide · 8 min read Physical Security in the Public Sector: A Practical Framework for Facilities and Estates Teams Public Sector · MATs & Estates
- Insight · 5 min read Public Space CCTV: A Community Safety Essential, Not an Optional Extra Public Sector · CCTV & Technology
- Guide · 5 min read Protecting Public Green Spaces: A Security Guide for Local Authorities and Councils Public Sector
- Guide · 6 min read Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour and Fly-Tipping: A Security Guide for Local Authorities Public Sector
Looking for something by date? Browse the full article archive
Inherited a security system? Explore Maintenance Takeover
03Checklists & Downloads
Ready-to-use security resources.
Practical checklists and briefings you can use with your team, your estate or your governing body.
Available now
- Checklist · Printable The Power-Off Checklist A print-and-walk check of what keeps working when the mains or broadband drops. Open
- Checklist Martyn's Law: 12-Point Physical Security Readiness Checklist Twelve physical and procedural measures that make your protective procedures work in practice. Open
- Checklist DfE Protective Security and Preparedness: A Checklist for Schools The Department for Education's guidance distilled into actions a school can tick off. Open
- Download · PDF, 1 page See, Check and Notify: Staff Briefing A one-page reminder of the three SCaN habits for staffrooms and induction packs. Download
- Download · PDF, 1 page Security-Minded Communications: Briefing for Schools For whoever runs your website, newsletters and social media: what to share and what to hold back. Download
- Download · PDF, 3 pages UK Security Acronyms Cheat Sheet The acronyms, standards and frameworks you will meet, in plain English. Download
- Long-form guide · Printable The Invisible Shield Safeguarding-led security for schools and trusts: CCTV, access control and networks working together. Open
- Long-form guide · Printable The Connected Council Public space surveillance, civic access control and municipal networks for local authorities. Open
- Reference Security Glossary From KCSiE to BS EN 50131: every term explained and checked against primary sources. Open
In preparation
Not published yet. We will add these here when they are ready, not before.
- School Security Health Check
- CCTV Health Check
- Security Estate Handover Checklist
- Maintenance Contract Review Checklist
- Governor Security Assurance Checklist
Need help standardising an estate? Explore MAT Security
04Frameworks
The Fyrfly Approach
Security isn't something you install once. It is something you continually understand, test, maintain and assure.
The Fyrfly Preparedness Model
Explore the modelFive stages, from stopping an incident at the boundary to recovering afterwards. Every service, tool and guide on this site sits somewhere on it.
- Assurance Installed ≠ Assured. Systems degrade, staff change and plans go stale. Maintenance, testing, documentation and governance keep everything else true. What assurance looks like
- Security Resilience Security that still works when normal conditions fail. Power cuts, broadband outages and network failures are when you find out what your security really depends on. Read the resilience guide
- Maintenance Takeover You don't always need a new security system. Sometimes you need someone to take responsibility for the one you already have. How takeover works
- Independent Security Audit Most security reviews are sales visits in disguise. Ours is not. A fixed-fee audit of your whole site, including systems someone else installed, with a report you can take to any installer. How the audit works
Latest
Recently published
- CCTV Privacy in Schools: What You Need to Know Guide · 9 min read
- CCTV and Safeguarding in Schools Guide · 8 min read
- What Should a School Not Publish Online? A Page-by-Page Website Security Check Guide · 8 min read
- Inherited School Security Systems: What to Do When Nobody Knows How They Work Guide · 7 min read
- Drawing the Boundaries: Martyn's Law Across a Complex NHS Estate Guide · 11 min read
- Preparedness: What Happens When Something Goes Wrong? Guide · 10 min read
About these resources
Our guides are written by practitioners for the people who have to make security work on a real site and a real budget. Where a guide cites law or official guidance, we link to the primary source rather than to another supplier's summary. The ones we rely on most:
Not sure where to start?
Tell us what you're responsible for, what you're concerned about, or what you've inherited. We'll point you towards the most useful Fyrfly resource.