April Fools! Bringing the silly to your school

Pranking the teachers

Get the (willing) teachers involved with some funny pranks:

• Teacher dress-up day: Get some teachers on board for a little dress up! Ask the pupils to submit costume ideas for a fee and pick one at random for a teacher to wear for the whole day, or ask pupils to vote on a range of costumes by donating £1 — the costume with the most money behind it wins!
• Silly assembly challenge: Ask teachers to complete fun dares if fundraising targets are met — or do the classic pie-a-teacher!
• Dress like a teacher: Ask pupils to dress up like their favourite (or least favourite) teacher for a non-school uniform day!

Switch things up

Teachers are looking younger and younger these days. Or are the pupils looking older?!

• Freaky Friday: Ask older pupils to lead a short activity while staff act like pupils
• Act your age: Ask staff to attempt a pupil challenge, such as a TikTok dance or quiz. Pupils can vote for what they do by donating

Spot-the-prank trail

Organise a school-wide April Fools’ trail around the school site. Place posters, fake announcements or funny visual clues, such as:

• A poster announcing a ​‘new underwater classroom’
• A fake timetable change for a subject like ​‘Sleep Skills’
• A photo of the headteacher supposedly skydiving into school

Prizes could be awarded to pupils who spot them all!

Mystery treat bake sale

If your PTA already regularly runs bake sales, an April Fools’ twist can make them even more fun. Label baked goods with playful mystery descriptions, like:

• ‘Possibly chocolate…possibly something else’
• ‘Surprise cupcake of destiny’
• ‘Teacher’s secret recipe’

Of course, never keep the allergy information a mystery!