How to Plan Halloween Activities for Your School

Why is planning Halloween important in schools?

Planning Halloween in school works best when it is treated as a whole-school activity rather than a collection of separate classroom events. A clear plan helps schools manage budgets, staffing, safeguarding, allergies, inclusion and practical arrangements while still giving pupils opportunities to be creative, learn together and enjoy age-appropriate seasonal activities around the October half-term period.

Halloween can provide plenty of opportunities for creativity, storytelling, performance and bringing the school community together. However, without a coordinated plan, activities can quickly become difficult to manage.

Different classes may organise separate activities, resources may be duplicated and staff can find themselves preparing events at the last minute. School Business Managers can help by creating a simple whole-school approach covering dates, available spaces, budgets, resources and responsibilities.

Halloween often falls around October half term, so planning ahead is particularly useful. Decide which activities will take place before the break, which will happen afterwards and whether you want one main event or several smaller activities.

A good plan should also consider pupils who do not celebrate Halloween, children who may find costumes or frightening imagery uncomfortable, pupils with SEND and any safeguarding, medical or allergy requirements.

The aim does not need to be to make Halloween bigger. It is to make whatever your school chooses to do manageable, inclusive and enjoyable.

What should schools decide before scheduling Halloween?

Start by agreeing what Halloween will look like in your school.

Speak with your leadership team and staff about:

• which year groups will be involved
• whether activities will be classroom-based or whole-school
• how much budget is available
• which rooms or shared spaces will be needed
• who will lead each activity
• whether parents or carers will be invited
• whether food will be provided
• what resources need ordering
• how activities will be made accessible and inclusive
• what risk assessments or safeguarding arrangements are required.

Using student voice can also help schools understand which activities pupils would genuinely enjoy rather than planning based purely on assumptions. Parent voice may be useful if families will be attending or contributing to an event.

Once these decisions are made, create a simple schedule and share it with staff well in advance.

How can schools plan a Halloween-themed event?

A whole-school Halloween event can bring different classes together and create a shared experience.

This could be:

• a Halloween craft afternoon
• a themed activity day
• a story and reading event
• a school disco
• an autumn or Halloween fair
• a creative exhibition
• a themed fundraising event.

Decide early which spaces you will need and how many pupils can safely use them at once. Large events may work better with classes attending at allocated times rather than bringing the entire school together.

If external providers, volunteers or parents are involved, make sure the event follows your school's normal visitor and safeguarding procedures. In England, the Department for Education's Keeping children safe in education 2026 guidance sets out the safeguarding responsibilities schools and staff must follow.

You could also use the event to raise money for a chosen charity, provided fundraising arrangements are clearly communicated to families.

How can you organise a Halloween school show?

The original school show idea remains a great way to involve pupils who enjoy performing.

Rather than limiting the show to frightening Halloween themes, encourage classes to explore seasonal stories, music, dance, poetry or age-appropriate drama.

Start by identifying a member of staff who can coordinate the production and then consider:

• rehearsal times
• performance space
• lighting and sound
• costumes
• costume accessories
• scenery
• role play panels
• masks
• props
• seating
• ticket arrangements
• photography permissions.

A smaller performance during an assembly may be more manageable than a full evening production, particularly if staff time or the school budget is limited.

If families are invited, communicate timings and arrangements early so everyone knows what to expect.

How can Halloween support curriculum learning?

Halloween activities do not have to be separate from learning.

Teachers could use the theme to explore history, literacy, art, drama and wider cultural understanding.

For example, pupils could investigate how traditions have changed over time, compare different seasonal customs or explore how folklore develops. Older pupils may be able to examine historical beliefs, myths and famous historical events in greater depth.

Care should be taken when discussing religious or cultural traditions. Separate festivals and beliefs should not simply be presented as alternative versions of Halloween. Giving pupils accurate context helps to promote equality in your school and avoids reducing cultures or beliefs to costumes and decorations.

The Department for Education's Equality Act guidance reminds schools of their responsibilities around protected characteristics, including race, religion or belief and disability.

Staff could also create shared lesson ideas so pupils across the school receive a consistent experience while teachers retain flexibility for their individual classes.

Should schools create Halloween guidance for staff?

A short seasonal-events policy or staff briefing can make future planning easier.

It does not need to be complicated. Include expectations around:

• appropriate costumes
• inclusive language
• frightening imagery
• food and allergies
• photography
• decorations
• classroom activities
• pupil participation
• cultural and religious sensitivity
• behaviour expectations.

Not every pupil or family will celebrate Halloween. Children should not feel excluded or singled out because they choose not to participate.

Consider providing autumn-themed art, storytelling or creative alternatives that allow everyone to join the wider class activity without having to celebrate Halloween itself.

This helps maintain an effective learning environment while giving staff clear boundaries for planning.

How can schools run a Halloween costume competition?

Dressing up can be one of the most enjoyable parts of Halloween for some pupils, and a costume competition can be organised across classes or year groups.

Before announcing it, decide what pupils will actually be judged on. Categories can often be more inclusive than choosing one overall 'best' costume.

Ideas include:

• most creative
• best homemade costume
• best use of recycled materials
• funniest costume
• most imaginative character.

This can reduce pressure on families to purchase expensive outfits.

Prizes could include certificates, books, creative materials or small trophies. Make the criteria clear in advance through letters, newsletters or posters.

Costume guidance should also avoid stereotypes or outfits that imitate or mock a person's race, religion, disability or culture.

Remember that some children may not want to dress up at all. Participation should still be possible without wearing a costume.

What Halloween activity day ideas work well in schools?

A Halloween activity day can give different classes opportunities to work together while keeping activities contained within an organised timetable.

Use the hall, library, classrooms or other suitable areas to create activity stations.

Ideas could include:

• Halloween arts and crafts: Provide craft materials, poster paper, black card, tissue paper, glue sticks, paint and other supplies so pupils can make decorations, characters or seasonal artwork.
• Halloween modelling challenge: Give groups modelling dough and ask them to create a Halloween or autumn-themed object while teammates guess what they are making.
• Pumpkin decorating: Rather than carving pumpkins with younger pupils, children can use paint, paper and other craft materials to decorate them. If pumpkin carving is planned for older pupils, it should be age-appropriate, closely supervised and included within the school's normal risk-assessment procedures.
• Halloween treasure hunt: Create clues around an agreed area of the school and ask teams to work together to solve them. Instead of automatically using sweets as prizes, consider stickers, stationery or other small rewards, particularly where allergy management could make food prizes difficult.
• Creative writing challenge: Give pupils an opening sentence, unusual character or mysterious setting and challenge them to create their own story.

Activities do not have to be frightening. Offering a mixture of spooky, autumnal and creative choices can make the day more accessible.

How can pupils help organise a Halloween fair?

A pupil-led Halloween fair can help older children develop practical skills while contributing to the school community.

Divide pupils into small groups and ask them to plan a stall within a clear budget.

Possible stalls could include:

• crafts
• games
• artwork
• books
• competitions
• pupil-made decorations
• supervised refreshments.

Encourage pupils to think about what materials they need, what their stall will cost to run and how they will organise it.

School staff should retain oversight of money handling, food, safeguarding and safety arrangements, but pupils can take responsibility for appropriate elements of planning and presentation.

If proceeds are being donated to charity, explain clearly how money will be collected and where it will go.

The project can introduce budgeting, teamwork, problem-solving, communication and creative thinking without turning the day into a purely commercial event.

How can schools organise a Halloween party?

If your school wants to hold a Halloween party, decide whether it will take place during the school day or after school.

Think carefully about:

• pupil numbers
• staffing
• supervision
• music
• games
• decorations
• food
• drinks
• accessibility
• quiet spaces
• collection arrangements for an after-school event.

Ask for staff volunteers early and allocate responsibilities so that one person is not trying to manage everything.

If families or staff provide food, allergy arrangements must be managed carefully. In England, the Department for Education published statutory Allergy safety in schools guidance in July 2026. Schools covered by the guidance must have an allergy safety policy, appropriate staff training and arrangements for pupils who require Individual Healthcare Plans.

Check ingredients and dietary requirements before serving food rather than relying on assumptions. The Department for Education also advises schools to make reasonable adjustments for pupils' medical, dietary and cultural requirements.

How should schools decorate for Halloween?

Decorations can transform corridors, classrooms and shared areas without requiring a large budget.

Agree which areas will be decorated so that staff do not purchase duplicate display materials.

Simple resources such as poster paper, black card, tissue paper and pupil artwork can create effective displays. You could also ask classes to contribute one piece of work to a larger whole-school display.

Avoid covering important signs, creating trip hazards or obstructing doors, corridors and escape routes. GOV.UK fire-safety guidance for educational premises says schools should keep fire precautions and risk assessments up to date and ensure safe means of escape.

Also consider pupils who may find very dark, frightening or visually busy displays overwhelming. Halloween decorations can be fun without making every part of the school feel scary.

How can schools create a Halloween book event?

Books provide another simple way to bring Halloween into school while encouraging reading for pleasure.

Create a themed display of books featuring mysteries, autumn stories, friendly monsters, fantasy, folklore or age-appropriate spooky stories.

You could organise:

• teacher read-aloud sessions
• pupil book recommendations
• storytelling assemblies
• character illustration activities
• creative writing
• book reviews
• a classroom story competition.

If you have previously run National Storytelling Week activities, some of the same ideas and resources could be reused rather than creating an entirely new event.

Schools could also invite a local bookseller, library service or appropriate external provider to run a book event, subject to normal safeguarding and visitor procedures.

The key is giving pupils a choice. Halloween should provide another reason to explore stories rather than restricting children to one type of book.

How should School Business Managers budget for Halloween?

Once activities have been agreed, create a realistic school budget before ordering resources.

List everything required and separate items into essentials and optional extras.

Check existing stock first. Schools may already have:

• stationery
• art supplies
• decorations
• notebooks
• display resources
• reusable costumes
• books
• prizes.

A school procurement checklist can help identify what is already available and prevent duplicated purchasing.

Where possible, choose resources that can be reused for other curriculum activities rather than buying large quantities of single-use Halloween products.

It may also be worth giving year groups or activity leaders individual spending limits. This gives staff some flexibility without losing overall control of expenditure.

If the school is fundraising through tickets, stalls or donations, keep expected income separate from the event budget until the money has actually been received.

What safety, safeguarding and inclusion checks should schools make?

Before confirming any Halloween activity, ask a few straightforward questions.

Is the activity suitable for the age group?
Activities involving tools, food, crowded spaces or physical games may need additional supervision or adaptation.

Are allergies and medical needs accounted for?
Do not introduce food activities without checking the school's allergy safety arrangements and individual pupil needs.

Can every pupil participate?
Consider SEND, sensory sensitivities, mobility, communication needs and pupils who do not celebrate Halloween.

Are costumes appropriate?
Set expectations before the event and avoid costumes that could be discriminatory, distressing or unsafe.

Are visitors being managed correctly?
Follow your school's safeguarding and visitor procedures whenever parents, volunteers, performers or outside companies are involved.

Are decorations and room layouts safe?
Keep routes and exits clear and make sure temporary displays do not interfere with existing fire precautions.

A little preparation can prevent an enjoyable activity from becoming an unnecessary operational problem.

How does GLS support schools with seasonal planning?

Seasonal events often create extra work for already-busy school teams. The practical challenge is usually not coming up with ideas; it is coordinating staff, checking existing stock, managing budgets and making sure the right resources arrive when they are needed.

GLS works with schools every day, so we understand that seasonal activities still need to fit around teaching, procurement, safeguarding and the everyday running of a school.

Planning early allows schools to check existing supplies, combine orders and choose versatile resources such as stationery, craft materials and display materials that can continue to be used after Halloween.

Whether you are organising one classroom activity or a whole-school event, keeping the plan simple and involving the right people early can make a significant difference.

Schools. We get you.