PTA - parent only events that are actually fun?

[NicolaandLawrie]

Hi

I have recently joined our PTA (resisted until now - Year 4) and immediately been put in charge of parent events. In the past they’ve done a quiz night, ladies shopping evening and I think that’s about it.

Anyone been to any PTA events that were genuinely fun? Am looking for ideas! They seem open minded to suggestions. Only thing I can think of so far is a 90s night (mainly because I want to go to one and there’s none locally haha).

We have access to a largish sports hall. I won’t get much organisational help but that doesn’t bother me, happy to take that on. I just really want to do something a bit more fun and a bit more innovative! To hopefully get more people there and therefore raise more £.

Any and all suggestions very welcome? Thanks 😊

I think it's really dependent on your parent body, disposable incomes, and the "vibe" of the school. For instance, at our school we aim only to break even with our events as the school doesn't need the money, so it's more for community building and charity. Genuinely fun events in the past have been a fancy dress dinner-dance with a theme like 80s, swinging 60s etc, a wine tasting, a quiz night, a summer fair/hog roast, and a summer ball. These are ticketed events so you need to figure out how high you can go before turning parents off because of cost to see how fancy an event you can have.

In terms of other events, maybe the PTA can piggy back onto school events as well? Ours does a bonfire night where the school organise the fireworks and bonfire - in the past the school has done food and drinks but the PTA could have done just as easily. Cake sales can also make some money, we managed £1300 last year doing a Macmillan one. And also selling drinks/cakes/mince pies before a school concert/talent show/nativity/christingle, parents love to come watch their kids and buy something to drink beforehand.

We always did curry and quiz with byob, fairly early start so everyone would head to the pub afterwards.

Christmas wreath-making workshop, with fizz & nibbles.

Adult bingo (relies on a decent caller!) & fish supper

Boozy film night

Quiz night where teams are allocated on arrival (need decent quizmaster)

Basically anything that isn’t “I’ll only go if my existing mates are definitely going” and allows shyer people/those wanting to make better friends to turn up and not feel Billy No Mates. So you need an activity to do.

We are looking at wreath making this year!

quiz nights always go down well I think

Thank goodness when I was on the PTA all we did was organise fundraising events. There weren't such things as adult only events - I can think of nothing worse, but each to their own.

Adult only events? Like an PTA organised piss up basically? I’ve worked in a fair few schools have never come across this. I think that’s weird to be honest.

I agree. Our school does not do these type of events. They sound like my idea of hell 🙈

Send a letter out that says “if you bung us a tenner we’ve made enough and you don’t have to pretend to want to socialise with people you don’t know / buy cakes you don’t want for the rest of the year”.

I would pay in a heartbeat not to have to worry about it until September 2023

Really common in our school, they do at least a couple a year. It's a very affluent area and usually raise a lot.

We had a comedy night last spring term, that was fun. There's always an annual quiz night too.

Bingo and race night were our popular events because they were family events so parents didn't need to get a babysitter. The bar takings were always healthy too.

Adult only quizzes / summer balls were only ever attended by pressganged friends of the committee.

The PTA I was in did Quiz Nights with Fish and Chips.
I never went because there was always a lot of alcohol involved and they got quite loud and boisterous. Which I personally don't enjoy.
But they were fairly popular and raised a lot of money.
Personally I would have like a games night - bingo, beetle drive type games more than a quiz.

Is your PTA a member of Parentkind OP? They have some good ideas and resources on there. I haven't been on a PTA in a while now mine are older, but we used to do a quiz night with an auction that was very popular. Affluent area though. As a PP said, it partly depends on that, as you need to factor in cost of a babysitter for some of the evening stuff.

We once did a pamper evening that made a lot. Local therapists paid for a spot, then their takings were theirs. We sold wine, raffle tickets etc and you had to pay for entry. We also allowed children (so had glitter tattoos, nail painting etc, but we manned those not professionals, so we made the profit).

Thanks, we are pretty affluent, babysitting or cost of events wouldn’t be an issue. Some interesting ideas - thanks so much to those who made useful suggestions!

Bingo was brilliant. Much better than a quiz.

I would happily pay £20 if it meant I could avoid PTA events

Ours were pretty poorly attended to be honest, no matter how you spin it . If I'm getting a baby sitter for a relatively rare kid free night, it won't be for a PTA event! And christ, no more ladies evenings - it's 2022.

An annual quiz is plenty. Let the rest be about the kids

I say this as a former chair of a very successful fundraising PTA in a pretty middle class school with lovely, engaged parents.

I tell a lie- the golf day made a killing. With an auction where the blokes got into a drunken dick swinging competition and over bid. But relies on decent donated prizes

@Gr33ngr33ngr4ss We must be well behind the times as ladies nights are the major form of charity event here. Not that I've ever been to one 🤣

Re "bung us a tenner" - we have a PTA donation option on the school payment system and it is by far our biggest contributor. Embrace those who don't want to participate!

Yes. And crowdfunding for specific big ticket purchases/ trips.

Most people will share a link on FB and all kinds of people are happy to donate, surprisingly!

I can't think of anything that would entice me to go to an adult only event at school.

Fortunately not a thing where I live.

Chocolate bingo is always a hit here, so bingo but all the prizes are chocolate, we do a none uniform day before it in exchange for chocolate, any chocolate, can a tiny fun sized bar or a massive easter egg anything goes! And you don't have to donate (many don't).

Chocolate bingo! What a great idea! Usually quiz night does well.