School Event & Fundraising Ideas - Make Your Next School Event Bigger, Better and More Fun

School events are some of the most memorable days in a child's school year.

Whether it's a PTA fundraiser, school fete, reward day, Christmas celebration, sports event or end-of-term fun day, giving pupils something exciting to look forward to can create memories that last long after they've left the classroom.

But organising a successful school event isn't always easy.

You need entertainment that appeals to different ages, enough activities to keep queues moving, sensible use of the available space and, for fundraising events, attractions that encourage families to attend and stay for longer.

That's where Megabounce can help.

With a huge range of inflatables, games and event equipment available for hire across Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire, the Forest of Dean and surrounding areas, there are plenty of ways to turn your next school event into something special.

Start by Thinking About the Type of Event

Not every school event needs the same entertainment.

A summer fete open to hundreds of families is very different from a reward afternoon for one year group.

Before deciding what to hire, consider:

• How many children are likely to attend?
• What age groups will be taking part?
• Will parents and other adults be attending?
• Is the event indoors or outdoors?
• How much space is available?
• How long will the event last?
• Is the aim primarily entertainment or fundraising?
• Do you want attractions suitable for adults too?

Answering these questions can make choosing the right equipment considerably easier.

Bouncy Castles Are Still a School Favourite

Sometimes the simplest ideas are still among the best.

A colourful bouncy castle can immediately create excitement at a school event, particularly for younger children.

Megabounce has a large selection of bouncy castles available in different sizes and styles, making it possible to choose equipment suitable for the age group and space available.

For events involving younger pupils, a bouncy castle can provide a familiar attraction children immediately understand and want to use.

But for a large school fun day, you may want to go considerably bigger!

Assault Courses Are Brilliant for School Events

Inflatable assault courses and fun runs can be particularly effective at school events because they combine physical activity with friendly competition.

Children can climb, crawl, squeeze through obstacles and race towards the finish.

You could even turn the attraction into a competition between classes or year groups.

Imagine:

Year 5 versus Year 6.

Teachers versus pupils.

Parents versus teachers.

That competitive element can create a fantastic atmosphere, while spectators get almost as much enjoyment from watching as the people taking part.

Megabounce has numerous assault courses and fun runs within its hire range, including larger options suitable for major events.

Giant Slides Create a Real WOW Factor

If you're trying to make your school fete or fun day look impressive from the moment families arrive, a giant inflatable slide can make a fantastic centrepiece.

Large attractions are visible from across the event and can immediately give visitors the impression that there's plenty to do.

Children love climbing to the top before racing back down, often returning to the queue almost immediately!

For a larger event, combining a giant slide with other attractions can help spread visitors around the site.

Create Different Entertainment Zones

One useful approach for a large school event is to divide the site into different zones.

Rather than placing every attraction in one area, you might create:

Inflatable Zone

Bouncy castles, slides and assault courses.

Games Zone

Garden games, football challenges and competitive activities.

Toddler Zone

Soft play and age-appropriate equipment for younger visitors.

Food Zone

Refreshments, snacks and seating.

Fundraising Zone

Raffles, tombolas, stalls and competitions.

This can make a busy event easier for visitors to navigate and helps prevent one area becoming overcrowded.

It also gives families a reason to explore the entire event.

Don't Forget Younger Brothers and Sisters

School events frequently attract much more than just the pupils themselves.

Parents may bring younger brothers and sisters along too.

Providing something specifically for toddlers and preschool children can therefore be a very worthwhile addition.

Megabounce's extensive range includes soft play, ball pits and toddler-focused equipment, giving younger visitors somewhere suitable to play.

Parents with several children of different ages are much more likely to stay at an event when everyone has something to enjoy.

Give Older Children Something Exciting

Older pupils can be harder to entertain.

A small children's bouncy castle probably isn't going to impress a group of teenagers!

Instead, think about activities with more challenge or competition.

Assault courses, football inflatables, gladiator-style games, sumo suits and other interactive attractions can be much more appealing to older children.

This is another reason why having several different activities can work so well at a school fun day.

Different age groups can naturally gravitate towards the attractions that interest them.

Get the Adults Involved

One of the easiest ways to create laughter at a school event is to persuade the adults to join in.

And teachers are usually prime targets!

Imagine the headteacher taking on another teacher on an inflatable challenge.

Or parents competing against each other.

Or a member of staff attempting a rodeo bull while pupils cheer from the sidelines.

Activities involving adults can create some of the funniest and most memorable moments of the entire event.

They can also be used creatively for fundraising.

Perhaps pupils donate to nominate which teacher has to take part.

Suddenly the entertainment itself becomes part of the fundraising effort.

Rodeo Bulls Can Draw a Crowd

Some attractions don't just entertain the person taking part - they entertain everyone watching too.

A rodeo bull is a great example.

People gather around to see how long each participant can stay on, creating a natural spectator attraction.

For school events attended by older pupils, parents and staff, this type of entertainment can add another dimension to the day.

You could even keep a leaderboard and award a small prize to whoever lasts the longest.

Garden Games Can Keep Everyone Entertained

Not every attraction needs to be enormous.

Garden games can be a great way of filling smaller spaces around an event and providing something families can enjoy together.

They're particularly useful for visitors who don't necessarily want to go on a large inflatable.

They can also help keep children entertained while waiting for other attractions.

Having lots of smaller activities dotted around the site can make an event feel much busier and more varied.

Turn Your Event Into a Fundraiser

For many schools and PTAs, raising money is one of the main reasons for holding an event.

The funds generated might go towards:

• New playground equipment
• Books
• Computers and technology
• School trips
• Sports equipment
• Outdoor learning areas
• Classroom resources
• Clubs and activities

The challenge is creating an event families genuinely want to attend.

Good entertainment can help.

When children know there will be inflatables, games and exciting attractions available, they're much more likely to encourage Mum, Dad or their carers to come along!

Think Beyond Entry Tickets

There are numerous ways schools can potentially raise funds during an event.

Depending on how the event is organised, ideas could include:

Admission tickets

Charge families a modest entry fee.

Activity wristbands

Visitors purchase a wristband giving access to selected attractions.

Individual activity tickets

Guests buy tokens or tickets to use on different activities.

Raffles

Ask local businesses to donate prizes.

Tombolas

A traditional school fete favourite.

Food and refreshments

Sell drinks, cakes, hot food and snacks.

Sponsored challenges

Teachers or pupils take part in challenges in return for sponsorship.

The right approach will depend on the size and nature of the event, but combining several fundraising ideas can make a significant difference.

Invite Local Businesses to Get Involved

Local companies are often happy to support schools in their community.

You could ask businesses to sponsor individual attractions, donate raffle prizes or operate their own stall at the event.

In return, the school could display the company's banner or mention them in promotional material.

This can reduce some of the cost of organising the event while building stronger relationships between the school and local community.

Food and Drink Can Keep Families at the Event Longer

Food is another important consideration.

If your event runs for several hours, families may leave early if there is nowhere to get something to eat or drink.

Providing refreshments can encourage visitors to stay longer.

Depending on the event, you might consider:

• Burgers
• Hot dogs
• Cakes
• Ice creams
• Sweets
• Popcorn
• Hot and cold drinks

Megabounce also lists Food, Drink and Bar Hire amongst its extensive event hire categories, making it worth considering alongside the entertainment.

What if the Weather Changes?

British weather can make outdoor event planning interesting!

Even summer doesn't guarantee sunshine.

When possible, have a backup plan.

Some equipment may be suitable for indoor use where sufficient space and ceiling height are available, while marquees and other event equipment can potentially provide additional covered areas.

If you're planning a large outdoor school event, discussing the venue and requirements well in advance can help you understand what options are available.

Christmas School Events Are Coming Too

School entertainment isn't only for summer.

With autumn now underway, schools and PTAs will soon be thinking about Christmas fairs, festive celebrations and end-of-term events.

Indoor entertainment can work brilliantly during the colder months.

A school hall or suitable community venue can be transformed with decorations, music, festive stalls and entertainment.

And once Christmas is finished, there are plenty of opportunities throughout the rest of the academic year too.

Plan Early for the Biggest Choice

Large school events can require several attractions, so planning ahead is particularly important.

Popular dates - especially towards the end of school terms and during the summer - can become busy.

Start planning early, decide what type of event you want to create and think about which attractions would work best for the ages attending.

The earlier you begin, the more time you have to promote the event to families and the wider community.

School Event Hire Across the Region

Megabounce operates across a large area surrounding Ross-on-Wye, supplying entertainment throughout Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire and the Forest of Dean, as well as surrounding locations.

Areas served include places such as:

Ross-on-Wye, Hereford, Ledbury, Leominster, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Newent, Coleford, Cinderford, Monmouth, Abergavenny, Chepstow and Malvern.

Whether you're organising a small primary school celebration or a major event attracting hundreds of families, Megabounce has an extensive selection of entertainment to explore.

Make Your Next School Event One to Remember

The best school events bring pupils, parents, teachers and the local community together.

They create laughter.

They give children something exciting to look forward to.

And when they're organised as fundraisers, they can also generate valuable money for the school.

From traditional bouncy castles and soft play to assault courses, giant slides, rodeo bulls, competitive inflatables, garden games and event equipment, there are countless ways to build an event around the space and budget available.

So whether you're planning a PTA fundraiser, school fete, reward day, Christmas celebration or huge summer fun day, start planning early and create something families will genuinely want to attend.