The History of Federal State School
Early Beginnings
Federal State School opened its doors on 14 February 1910 in the locality of Federal, Queensland. The school emerged to serve the children of the growing farming and timber-community in the hinterland of what is now the Sunshine Coast region of Queensland.
Growth and Community Role
In the decades following its establishment, the school became a cornerstone of the small town of Federal: a place of education, social gathering and community identity. The original school building, captured in early photographs dating from around 1910, is a reminder of the modest, multi-purpose classrooms of the era.
With the passage of time, the school adapted to changing educational needs, expanding in both enrolments and curriculum to cater for local children.
Campus Relocation & Modern Facilities
A major development occurred when the school moved to its current address at 40 Middle Creek Road. The relocation, completed in 2010, allowed the school to move away from the highway corridor and establish a purpose-built educational facility.
Today, although more than one hundred years old, the campus boasts modern buildings and technology-rich classrooms, providing contemporary educational environments while retaining its historic community roots.
Heritage & Significance
The school site is recognised as a heritage-place in the locality of Federal, highlighting its long-standing role in regional education and community life. Over the years, the school has fostered generations of local children and has nurtured the bonds that unite the Federal community.
Looking Forward
As the school enters its second century of service, it carries forward a legacy of community, learning and adaptability. It continues to serve students from a wide catchment area, and remains committed to providing a friendly, safe and academically engaging environment.
Newspaper Article (extracts)
Tiny school has the numbers
(an extract from the Sunshine Coast Daily)
A VERY small Sunshine Coast school has produced some of the region’s best basic literacy and numeracy among state schools, according to My School website.
BIGGER is not always better.
One of the smallest schools on the Sunshine Coast has produced some of the region’s best state school results in basic literacy and numeracy, according to the federal government’s My School website.
Federal State School, which sits on the edge of the Bruce Highway, north of Pomona, and has only 89 students, scored above average or substantially above average in nine out of 15 categories in the NAPLAN tests.
The school’s 2009 results did not include as many “above average” scores as its 2008 chart and did include some below average scores.
However, the green “above average” and “substantially above average marks” stood out from the predominantly pink and red “below average” and “substantially below average” marks against many state schools on the Coast.
Federal State School principal Natalie Pilkington, who also teaches a combined prep-year one class, said good teachers and the school’s small size contributed towards the results.
“We’re just here to do our job and we’ve got really good, quality teachers who know what they’re doing,” she said.
“The small size helps because the teachers get to know the students really well, and work together as a good team to promote their strengths and work on their weaknesses.”