School Sports Tour Guide: Making It Happen for Your Students

For many teachers, the idea of taking a team on a sports tour may feel out of reach. Budgets are tight. Time is limited. And let’s face it, organising fixtures, travel and accommodation on top of your day job might seem like a mountain to climb.

But here’s the good news: schools across the UK are already making sports tours a reality – and the impact on their students is nothing short of life-changing. With the right planning, the right support, and Edwin Doran part of your team – your school can do it too.

Why tours matter for schools

A sports tour is about much more than the scoreline. It’s about giving students opportunities they’ll never forget:

• Levelling the playing field – experiences many young people would otherwise miss out on.
• Building life skills – resilience, independence, teamwork, and confidence.
• Bringing education to life – whether it’s languages, geography, or cultural awareness.

As one teacher put it:

“Edwin Doran were extremely professional in arranging a school sports tour for 70 students taking part in multiple sports at different locations. The itinerary was perfect and enabled students to be busy and experience sport and other cultures. They were readily available to contact throughout the process and were quick to organise and adapt, even if myself as tour leader was behind in some aspect. Would recommend in future.”

Queen Elizabeth II High School

Overcoming common concerns

The Edwin Doran team hear the common concern from state schools:

“It’s too expensive.”

Start small. Short-haul tours to destinations in Europe, like Holland, France or Spain, are more affordable and logistically simple.

“We can’t take too much time out of school.”

Opt for long weekends or half-term breaks. Many tours are designed around compact itineraries that balance sport, sightseeing, and recovery.

“The admin will be overwhelming.”

That’s where working with a trusted operator like us at Edwin Doran Sports Tours makes all the difference. From risk assessments to matched fixtures, you’re never left on your own.

What works best for schools

From years of experience, we’ve learned a few golden rules that help schools get the most out of their tours:

• Keep groups manageable – one or two teams are easier to organise and keep costs down.
• Choose multi-sport destinations – ideal if you want to involve more students and spread costs.
• Mix sport with culture – excursions like city sightseeing, theme parks or local meals give students a more rounded experience.

Funding ideas that really work

Fundraising doesn’t need to be complicated. Some of the most effective ideas are the simplest:

• Quiz nights in the school hall
• Raffles with donated sports memorabilia or event tickets
• Sponsorship on tour kit
• Cake sales, car washes or dress-down days

Every pound raised helps bring the experience closer for your students.

The benefits teachers notice most

From the moment you start planning to the day you arrive back home, the impact is clear. Teachers often tell us they feel:

• Confident: “We always use Edwin Doran as the trips are always planned well, staff are extremely helpful and the boys have the trip of a lifetime” – The John Fisher School
• Supported: “Having their staff always at locations and on hand was a great support and made the whole experience really safe and rewarding” – St Anselm’s College, Birkenhead
• Empowered: “I would highly recommend Edwin Doran, they were really good in listening to us in the planning stage and working together to create a brilliant experience for the pupils.” – St Paul’s School
• Smart: “Really positive sporting experience for the students. Busy, inspiring and competitive tour!” – Pate’s Grammar School

Or as another Group Leader summed it up:

“We felt very well looked after both pre and during the tour and would 100% use Edwin Doran for a similar tour in the future. Thank you!”

High School of Dundee

Your team, your tour

If you’ve ever thought, “A sports tour isn’t for us,” think again. With the right support, schools of all kinds are already giving their students the chance to compete abroad, grow as individuals, and come back with stories they’ll never stop telling.

Your team deserves that same opportunity.

Ready to explore what’s possible? To start planning your tour today, simply send us an online request or speak to the Edwin Doran team on 020 3617 7983