Best 5 Event Management Software for UK Schools

Choosing the right event management software can transform your school events and Inset Days, making planning effortless and attendance seamless!

In the UK, schools have specific needs—from continuing professional development and open evenings, to parent-teacher meetings and sports days. In this blog, we’ll explore the best event management platforms designed to simplify logistics, save you valuable time, and help your events run smoothly, every time.

Key Takeaways: At-a-Glance Comparison

Platform	Best For	Ease of Use	Price	Customer Support
Sched	Schools running all types and sizes of events year-round, including Inset Days.	Easy for school staff to pick up and use with no technical training.	Lowest-cost pricing designed for education budgets. See pricing here.	Fast, responsive support team with maximum 24-hour response time.
Cvent	Large-scale, multi-day events with complex logistics.	Complex interface, requires training.	Higher cost; suited to large event budgets.	Enterprise-level support, slower response times.
idloom	Structured CPD sessions and multi-stage registrations.	Requires a steep setup time.	Mid-range; good value for formal training use.	Limited support; setup guidance recommended.
Eventdex	Community and networking events on a budget.	Simple interface, especially on mobile.	Affordable and accessible for schools.	Responsive support with helpful documentation.
Eventbrite	Ticketed events.	Very easy to use*integrates with Sched!	Offers free and paid plans.	Basic customer support, varies by plan.

What to Look For in a School Event Management Tool

When searching for the best event management software, you should consider the following factors:

• Ease of Use: The platform should be simple enough for any staff member to pick up quickly, without training or technical support. If it takes more time to learn than to use, it’s not the right fit.
• Budget: School budgets are tight, and event planning tools should reflect that. Look for platforms that offer transparent pricing with no hidden fees.
• Event Type: Does the tool support the types of events your school actually runs? Like Inset days, CPD sessions, parent evenings, or community fairs? Generic or free platforms might not give you the structure you need.
• Scalability: Whether you’re planning for one site or coordinating events across a multi-academy trust, the platform should grow with you, not hold you back.
• Support: Even the best tools need support now and then. Look for platforms with responsive, education-friendly customer support. 
• GDPR Compliance: Any platform you use must comply with UK data protection laws. This includes secure storage, attendee consent options, and clear data management policies.

The Best 5 Event Management Software for UK Schools

1. Sched: Best All-in-One Event Management Platform for UK Schools

Sched is the all-in-one event management platform purpose-built for schools and colleges. 

It gives event planning teams everything they need to run events smoothly, from Inset and PD days to staff briefings and student-led events.

The Sched platform is intuitive, flexible, and built around the realities of school life: tight timelines, outdated tools, and staff stretched thin. 

Who Sched is For

Sched is built for school staff who organise events regularly, whether that’s Inset Days or Continuing Professional Development (CPD). It is perfect for CPD Leads planning training days or assistant headteachers overseeing multi-session events.

If your team is manually handling registrations, building schedules, and sending email reminders, Sched is designed to make that process easier and faster. It works equally well for small schools or large multi-academy trusts.

Why Sched Stands Out

Sched goes beyond basic scheduling. It’s a complete platform designed to help schools manage every stage of the event experience: from planning and registration to delivery and follow-up.

• Built for online, in-person, and hybrid events.
• Create and customise your own event website.
• Set up event registration with limits, waitlists, and approvals.
• Let attendees build personalised timetables from any device.
• Use the mobile app to check in, browse sessions, and access resources.
• Call for presenters with ease and use committee review to select the best speakers.
• Send push notifications to staff or attendees throughout the day.
• Track attendance with built-in QR scanning.
• Collect feedback and analytics to support CPD logs or improvement plans.
• Generate reports to share with SLT or MAT leaders.
• Works across events of all sizes, from one site to multiple campuses.
• Flat-rate pricing with no hidden costs, designed for education budgets.

Why Choose Sched’s School Event Management Software?

What makes Sched different is that it’s built specifically for schools managing all kinds of events year-round. 

Most event tools focus on either parent-led meetings or large conferences. But Sched supports everything: Inset days, staff briefings, multi-school training, enrichment activities, student exhibitions, and more. Host meaningful training sessions and provide effective staff development all in one platform. You don’t need multiple platforms to run different types of events.

Sched helps your team stay organised, reduce admin time, and deliver a better experience for everyone involved. It’s easy to use, fast to roll out, and backed by a team that understands how schools actually operate.

If your school is ready to move beyond paper sign-up sheets, patchwork solutions, and last-minute stress, Sched is the platform that brings it all together, and keeps it together.

→ Start planning events that actually make an impact. Try Sched for free today. 

2. Cvent: Best for Large-Scale Education Events Beyond Day-to-Day Use

Cvent is an enterprise-level event management platform used across industries, including education. It’s designed to handle every part of the event lifecycle for in-person, virtual, or hybrid formats.

With advanced tools and extensive functionality, Cvent is well-suited for larger-scale events where coordination and reporting are complex.

Who Cvent is For

Cvent is best for trusts and larger institutions running high-volume or multi-day events, such as district-wide CPD programmes or public-facing community events.

For school staff managing several venues, large attendee lists, or hybrid formats, Cvent provides the depth and data needed to keep things organised at scale.

How it Stands Out

Cvent offers a variety of features that support end-to-end event delivery. It puts an emphasis on control, customisation, and reporting.

• Manage registrations, payments, and communications in one system
• Create branded event websites and promotional materials
• Track ROI with built-in analytics dashboards
• Support hybrid delivery with virtual event tools
• Streamline on-site check-in with badge printing and mobile tools
• Integrate with CRMs and third-party systems

Why Choose Cvent?

If your school or trust runs large-scale events that require advanced coordination, Cvent offers the depth and flexibility to manage it all in one place.

That said, it’s a better fit for teams with technical support, dedicated planners, or event budgets to match. While it’s powerful, the platform can be more than most schools need for everyday events.

See how Sched and Cvent compare here.

3. Idloom: Best for Workshop-Style Events with Advanced Registration

idloom is an event platform built to simplify admin-heavy work like multi-stage registration, custom forms, and automated communications. It’s commonly used for training workshops, staff development events, and professional gatherings where registration flows need to be tailored.

Who Idloom is For

idloom is a good fit for education teams running structured training events, particularly those with multiple sessions, speaker tracks, or badge-based access.

If you’re coordinating staff CPD with specific registration requirements or hosting invite-only workshops, idloom helps simplify setup and communication from start to finish.

How it Stands Out

idloom focuses on registration flexibility and automation, making it useful for schools managing more formal or structured events.

• Customise registration flows with multiple form types.
• Automate badge creation and attendee check-in.
• Set up invoicing and payment collection for external events.
• Build drag-and-drop agendas.
• Host virtual or hybrid sessions with interactive features.

Why Choose idloom?

If your school or college regularly hosts formal training sessions with layered registration needs, such as subject-specific CPD, multi-day workshops, or events with ticketing, idloom can help reduce manual admin and improve attendee experience.

While it’s powerful, it may be way more than you need for simpler events like parent evenings or single-track training days. It is best suited for mid-sized institutions or trusts looking to automate and customise. It also requires a steeper learning curve at setup.

4. Eventdex: Best for Networking and Community Events

Eventdex is a mobile-first event management platform known for its affordability and strong networking features. It’s often used for business and trade events. However, its tools for check-in, attendee scanning, and mobile scheduling also work well for school-led community events.

Who Eventdex is For

Eventdex suits schools running public or community-facing events (alumni networking evenings, careers fairs, partnership showcases…), where attendee engagement and mobile access matter.

It’s especially useful for schools working with tight budgets that still want a professional, tech-supported experience.

How it Stands Out

The platform offers robust tools at a lower price point. It’s accessible for schools that need modern features without enterprise-level costs.

• Handle online registrations and payments.
• Use QR codes for check-in and badge printing.
• Offer a mobile app with event agendas and updates.
• Use attendee matchmaking and lead scanning (great for careers fairs).
• Collect attendee data for reporting and follow-up.
• Host hybrid or virtual events when needed.

Why Choose Eventdex?

Eventdex is a great choice for schools that want more than spreadsheets but can’t stretch to higher-cost platforms. It’s particularly well-suited for networking-heavy events where attendee interaction is key.

That said, it’s important to mention that Eventdex is less tailored to school-specific workflows like CPD or internal INSET planning, so it may not be the best everyday option. It’s ideal for occasional public-facing or partner-led events.

5. Eventbrite: Best for School Fundraisers and Ticketed Events

Eventbrite is a widely used event platform designed to manage ticketing, registration, and promotion for public events. It’s commonly used for concerts, fundraisers, open days, and performances. 

With strong promotional tools and a familiar interface, it’s built to get people through the door.

It also integrates seamlessly with Sched so you can have the best of both worlds.

Who Eventbrite is For

Eventbrite is a good fit for school teams running public-facing events with paid or free tickets, like school plays, charity galas, or seasonal fairs.

It’s especially useful for PTA teams, communications leads, or school marketers who want to boost attendance and manage payments with ease.

How it Stands Out

Eventbrite’s focus is on visibility and ease of access, It’s ideal for events that need promotion and payment handling.

• Set up ticketed or free events in minutes.
• Promote events via email and social media.
• Track registrations and ticket sales in real time.
• Use mobile ticket scanning at the door.
• Accept payments securely online.
• Integrate with platforms like Zoom for virtual delivery.

Why Choose Eventdex?

Eventbrite makes it easy to manage and promote ticketed events. 

It’s not designed for internal school use, like CPD or staff training, and doesn’t offer tools like personalised timetables or feedback collection. But for high-traffic, public-facing events, it’s a popular and dependable choice.

Ready to Try Sched for Your School? Start Your Free Trial Today

The best event management platform isn’t the one with the most features. It’s the one that helps you manage every detail with less effort, and deliver events that actually have an impact. 

If you’re looking for a tool that can support your Inset Day planning while staying on budget, Sched is the right choice for you. It’s built for schools, easy for anyone on your team to use, and flexible enough to support events all year.