Parent Skills Audit?

[nailslikeknives]

I've recently become more active on our school's PTA and we want to find out what skills other parents have and if they'd be happy to offer/donate them.

Has anyone got any experience of this? Either organising an audit or maybe you could tell me what encourages or puts you off being involved in one?
It'd be really helpful to know what works and what doesn't before embarking on this. Thank you!

[JakeBallardswife]

I’m just doing this for a charity I work for. So, ask people what they could do. Make jobs task specific eg photocopying minutes, making 2 cakes. Encourage teams if people to do a role eg, co chair, co treasurer and so on. If you pm me your email address, I’ll send over a link to a parent skill share form that you could adapt. Just don’t make it too long, keep asking the questions but in different ways.

[nailslikeknives]

Thank you, that'd be really helpful. I'm not sure how to message you, I'll have a look.

[nailslikeknives]

Really sorry Jake, I can't figure out how to PM you. Is there any chance you could pm me, then I will reply with my email? Thanks again

[2014newme]

I've done lots for the pta but there's no way I'd complete a skills Audit it's like being at work and it's patronising 😂

[nailslikeknives]

Derrr! Figured out the messaging!

[nailslikeknives]

2014 - I want to avoid provoking those feelings Any suggestions on how you would like to have been asked?

[2014newme]

I would not want to be asked!

[sirfredfredgeorge]

I'm with 2014newme, a parent skills audit is an idea which would turn me off the PTA, if I answer truthfully the skills I have, it has the feeling of an open ended obligation to actually utilise those skills whenever asked by the PTA, regardless of whatever my other commitments or inclination might be at the time. So I would not admit to any skills, and just be rubbed up negatively by being asked.

Yet if the PTA said "we need X", and I had particular skills that would make X easy, there's a very good chance I'd step up, whereas if the PTA had done the audit, I'd never get asked.

[2014newme]

A lot if it's jobs don't need skills they just people to sell tickets, set up stalls, take down stalls, tidy up after events etc. Those are the majority of the jobs.
Photocoping is also not a skill. It's a task

[cingolimama]

Sorry, but terrible idea. I argued against a skills audit when my DD was at primary and I was involved in the PTA. It's a useless exercise, because so much of what makes a PTA work, is stuff that most anyone could do with willing hands and minds. It's also, imo, a divisive exercise, as it reinforces the "middle-class" bias of most PTAs, and some would be put off by the idea that you had to have some kind of qualification or skill.

[cingolimama]

OP, it's very simple. If you actually require some specialist skill then put the word out through the PTA and the school newsletter or email list. You don't have to go to the trouble of a time-consuming "skills audit" which will alienate a lot of people. Sorry but it's just wank masquerading as pseudo-professionalism.

[Downhillatfifty]

Agree with PP's I was involved with the PTA at my childrens' school for many years most of the help needed was extra pair of hands which any parent could help with, no special skills required.
Also realistically how many "skills" are actually relevant to the running of school events unless you mean skills like sewing, cake making and scenery painting which is a bit patronising really.
If you conduct a skills audit you run the risk of alienating parents, parents are also not going to volunteer workplace skills that they have in case they get overwhelmed with requests for volunteering their time.
Somebody good with figures for treasurer, someone good with admin for the secretary are vital requirements the rest general helpers are what you need. If you find you have a specific need of a skill at any point contact all the parents at that time to see if anyone is able to step up and help

[nailslikeknives]

Thanks for all your replies, lots to think about

[2014newme]

Have you identified the skills you need op?