When it comes to describing school lockdown levels, every school does it differently. Some use colours, some numbers and others a combination of the two. For instance, you might have heard of ‘Code Red’ or ‘Level 2’ before.
Bodet Time clarifies some of the terminology used in lockdown scenarios along with their meaning. The features of the best lockdown alert systems are also examined to help you comply with Martyn’s Law.
Overview
Schools use different ways of categorising lockdown procedures, but the aim is always the same: helping staff and pupils respond appropriately during an incident.
- There is no standard lockdown-level system used across UK schools.
- Lockdown procedures are typically structured to reflect different levels of risk and response.
- Some lockdown levels focus on precautionary measures, while others indicate an immediate threat.
- Martyn's Law, expected to come into force in 2027, is set to increase the focus on lockdown planning and emergency preparedness.
- Clear communication systems can help schools respond quickly when every second counts.
Understanding School Bell Systems
When does a school bell ring?
Bells are an essential part of school life, their shrill ringing punctuating the day for staff and students. They signal the start and end of the school day, break and lunch times, and transitions between lessons.
Schools have historically used their bells and Public Address (PA) systems to sound emergency alerts. However, guidance now recommends using a dedicated lockdown alert that is clearly different from the bells heard throughout the school day. This helps staff, students and visitors immediately recognise that an emergency procedure is being activated. Modern bell and PA systems are extremely flexible and can transmit different tones or announcements to support this requirement.
How does a school bell work?
There are many different types of school bell. While teachers once relied on handbells, modern school bell systems are typically controlled electronically. Using dedicated software, schools can programme bell schedules in advance, allowing sounds, music or announcements to be broadcast automatically through speakers across the site at the appropriate times. More advanced systems can also create different zones, support live announcements and broadcast emergency alerts.
A sounder system such as Bodet Time’s Harmonys takes this a step further, allowing schools to play customisable bell sounds or messages at the touch of a button. They can be triggered via a PC, control panel, wireless remote control or app.
Schools can choose from a range of sounds, from traditional bell tones to melodies, recorded messages or pre-defined alerts. This allows the system to be adapted to the needs of the school, whether it is being used to signal lesson changes, communicate important information or support emergency procedures.
With the Bodet system we are able to tailor different sounds to differentiate between breaks, end of playtime and end of the day and it works extremely well. It's been a great help to us in communicating to the children what they need to do, and we wouldn't be without it
Facilities Manager, The Chiltern School, Bedfordshire
Understanding School Lockdown Levels
Definition
A school lockdown level is a term used to indicate the severity of a potential threat and the actions that staff and pupils should take in response. Schools may use colours, numbers or other terminology to distinguish between different situations, and there is no nationally standardised lockdown-level system used across UK schools.
What is a soft lockdown in schools?
The terminology surrounding lockdowns and lockdown levels varies between school and across the country. There are no set rules about the names schools must use for different lockdown levels. The most important thing is that everyone on the premises understands what each level means and the actions they need to take.
The term ‘soft lockdown’ is more likely to be used to describe lockdowns that result from incidents perceived to be less of a direct threat to the school. For example, there could be increased police activity nearby as they respond to an incident. In that case it would be unhelpful to emergency services, and possibly dangerous, to increase the volume of people in the area. Or a suspicious-looking individual may have been seen near the school and a soft lockdown might be a sensible precaution, to be on the safe side.
In this type of lockdown, it is expected that doors and access points to school grounds would be closed and locked. Students and staff would remain inside the school, and teaching would continue as normal while senior staff monitor the situation.
What is a code red school lockdown?
A code red lockdown is likely to sit at the opposite end of the scale from a soft lockdown. As red is traditionally associated with danger, it is commonly used to indicate the highest or most serious level of alert.
This level of lockdown would usually indicate an immediate threat to the school, such as an armed intruder or a violent incident on the premises. Staff and students may be asked to move to a safe location within the school, lock or secure doors and windows, remain out of sight and wait for further instructions.
What is a level 2 or level 3 lockdown in schools?
UK schools do not follow a single, standardised system for naming lockdown levels. In American schools, however, it is common to use a numbering system to define different levels of lockdown. According to lockoutusa.com, lockdowns in the United States occur on three different levels:
- Level 1: a potential threat has been identified nearby, but it is not thought to be targeting the school. The site is secured until the police confirm it is safe to resume normal activities.
- Level 2: an immediate threat has been identified on the school site and may present a risk to the safety of staff and students. Staff and students should move to the nearest secure location, remain out of sight, keep noise to a minimum and await further instructions.
- Level 3: a life-threatening threat has been identified on the school site and is believed to be actively seeking to cause harm. Staff and students should remain calm, follow the school’s lockdown procedures and await instructions from the emergency services.
In the UK, some schools may choose to increase the level number as the threat becomes more serious, while others may use a reverse numbering system, with Level 1 representing the highest level of alert.
Regardless of the system used, lockdown levels and the actions associated with each one should be clearly defined as part of a school's wider emergency planning and preparedness under Martyn's Law.
Understanding Martyn's Law
Why was Martyn’s Law introduced?
Martyn’s Law is named in memory of Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people who lost their lives in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017. Its official name is the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025.
The legislation was introduced following years of campaigning by Martyn’s mother, Figen Murray, who advocated for stronger measures to improve public safety. Martyn’s Law aims to improve preparedness across a wide range of public premises and events, requiring those within its scope to take steps to help reduce harm in the event of a terrorist attack.
Martyn’s Law is expected to come into force in spring 2027, with the Government confirming the exact date ahead of implementation.
How to comply with Martyn’s Law?
A designated responsible person will need to be identified for your school. They will be responsible for taking certain actions based on the number of people reasonably expected to be on site at the busiest time.
Sites used for primary, secondary or further education with 200 or more people fall within the standard tier, even if 800 or more people may be present at the same time.
For schools falling under this tier, the designated responsible person will need to put reasonably practicable and appropriate measures in place to protect everyone at the premises if a terrorist attack occurs there or in the immediate vicinity. These measures include evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication.
Having the right systems in place, such as a lockdown and emergency alert system, can help schools put these measures into practice and prepare for the requirements coming into force.
For more information about Martyn’s Law and what it means for schools, read What is Martyn’s Law for schools?
The right message at the right time
Instantly broadcast clear, easy-to-understand messages to support a coordinated response in an emergency.
The Importance of Training and Drills
Having clearly defined lockdown levels is only effective if staff and pupils understand how to respond when an alert is activated. Regular training and practice drills can help ensure procedures become familiar and can be carried out calmly during a real emergency.
Training should cover the meaning of each lockdown level, how alerts are communicated and the actions expected in each scenario. Drills should be planned carefully to build preparedness without causing unnecessary fear or anxiety. Explaining the purpose of the exercise beforehand and providing reassurance afterwards, particularly for younger children and those with additional needs, can help make the experience less unsettling.
The objective is not to create fear, but to build confidence and understanding.
Schools should also consider visitors, contractors and temporary staff. Emergency procedures should be communicated clearly so that anyone on site knows how to respond if a lockdown is initiated.
Lockdown procedures should be reviewed regularly and updated following significant changes to the site, staffing structure or emergency plans. Regular reviews can help ensure procedures remain effective and reflect the needs of the school.
Understanding Lockdown Alert Systems
We used to use the fire alarm to announce class changes and lunch breaks, but the information that can be conveyed is very limited. In this day and age, we needed a more versatile system that would enable us to communicate quickly and clearly to all staff and students what to do should a situation arise that required a lockdown protocol rather than evacuation.
Director of Operations, Djanogly Learning Trust
How School Bell Systems Support Lockdown Procedures
School bell and alert systems play an important role in supporting lockdown procedures by providing fast, clear and consistent communication across the site.
The most flexible systems are often the most effective. Unlike traditional bells, today's solutions can trigger a dedicated lockdown alarm that is instantly recognisable and clearly differentiated from routine sounds. This helps reduce confusion and enables staff, visitors and pupils to respond quickly and appropriately.
Many systems also allow pre-recorded or live voice messages to be broadcast across the site, ensuring instructions are clear and tailored to the situation.
More advanced solutions can provide zone-based notifications, allowing schools to send alerts to specific buildings or areas while normal activities continue elsewhere. Some systems also incorporate strobe lighting and visual displays, helping ensure emergency messages are seen by people with hearing impairments or those working in noisy environments. Mobile alert activation can further improve response times by allowing authorised staff to initiate a lockdown remotely using a smartphone.
Martyn's Law requires organisations within its scope to consider how they will communicate during emergency situations such as evacuation, invacuation and lockdown. As schools prepare for the new requirements, systems such as these can play an important role in helping them communicate clearly and respond quickly when it matters most.
Harmonys brings lockdown alerts and class bells together
Bodet Time's Harmonys IP/PoE Class Change System is a five-in-one solution, which incorporates class change, lockdown alerts, PA functionality, synchronised clocks and music streaming. This combined functionality is far more cost-efficient than having separate systems installed. And, since it operates across your existing IT network, infrastructure costs are reduced too.
Want to see how Harmonys could work for your school?
