Matthew Flinders Anglican College

## 1. Overview Matthew Flinders Anglican College is an independent, co-educational Anglican day school serving students from Prep to Year 12 on the Sunshine Coast. The college is known for its values-based education, strong community, and broad curriculum that supports academic achievement, wellbeing, and well-rounded development. The school fosters a warm, inclusive atmosphere with a focus on high standards and a supportive culture. Class sizes are designed to enable personalised attention within a rigorous learning environment, and the school emphasizes a balanced program that combines academics, sport, and the arts to help students grow as confident, responsible individuals. - School type: Independent Anglican - School size: Medium to large - Class size: Generally around the mid-teens to low-20s per class - Atmosphere/culture: Nurturing, academically focused, inclusive, with strong sport and arts participation --- ## 2. Academics & Learning Matthew Flinders Anglican College emphasises a broad, rigorous curriculum designed to prepare students for university and life beyond school. - Academic strengths: STEM and English are core strengths, with leadership development and languages embedded across the senior program. - Special programs: Gifted and Talented programs, opportunities for accelerated learning, and a range of enrichment activities to extend high-achieving students. - NAPLAN trends: Consistent year-on-year growth in reading and numeracy results, with continued improvement observed across year groups over time. - Student-teacher ratios: Low-to-mid range student-teacher ratios, allowing more feedback and guidance for students. - Support for diverse learners: Dedicated EAL support for non-native English speakers and robust SEN/learning support services to assist a range of learning needs. --- ## 3. Sports & Extracurricular Strengths A strong focus on well-rounded development, with wide opportunities across sport, arts, and clubs. - Sports offered: Rugby, football (soccer), cricket, netball, basketball, soccer, swimming, tennis, athletics, cross country, and more. - Strong teams or achievements: Competitive teams with regional and state representation across several sports. - Music, arts, drama programs: Comprehensive music programs (choir, band, ensembles), drama productions, and performing arts opportunities. - Clubs: Robotics, coding, chess, debating, and other science/tech clubs, alongside general service and leadership clubs. - Partnerships: Local community and regional partnerships for sport, robotics competitions, coding events, and arts collaborations; opportunities to engage in inter-school events and regional tournaments. --- ## 4. Wellbeing & Pastoral Care Pastoral care and student wellbeing are central to the school experience. - Anti-bullying approach: Proactive, school-wide anti-bullying programs with restorative practices to resolve issues and support all students. - House system: A house-based structure to promote belonging, competition, leadership, and teamwork. - Counsellors / wellbeing officers: On-site counsellors and wellbeing staff available to support mental health, resilience, and general wellbeing. - Transition support for new students: Orientation programs, buddy systems, and transition support to help new students settle in smoothly. --- ## 5. Facilities The college offers modern, purpose-built facilities to support learning, performance, and recreation. - Sports grounds: Extensive outdoor playing fields and courts for multiple sports. - Libraries: Well-stocked libraries with study spaces and digital resources. - Science labs: Modern science laboratories supporting hands-on STEM learning. - Music/performing arts centers: Dedicated music and drama spaces for rehearsals and performances. - Tech/innovation labs: Contemporary tech and innovation spaces for coding, robotics, and design projects. - Cafeteria: On-site catering facilities for students. - Updated playgrounds: Well-maintained playgrounds and outdoor spaces for active play and social time. --- ## 6. School Values & Community Culture The college aims to develop principled, capable young people within a caring community. - School values / mission: Anglican ethos emphasising integrity, service, respect, and personal growth. - Leadership style: Collaborative leadership with strong student input through prefects, leadership groups, and student councils. - Behaviour expectations: Clear behavioural expectations centered on respect, responsibility, and contribution to the community. - Community reputation: Positive reputation within the Sunshine Coast region for academics, sport, and a supportive school community. - Diversity & inclusion: Committed to inclusion and supporting students from diverse backgrounds to participate fully in school life. --- ## 7. School Logistics & Daily Operations Key day-to-day information to help families plan. - School hours: Typical school day runs from morning start to mid-afternoon with structured breaks; specific times vary by year level. - Before/after school care: Available to support families with early arrival and after-school supervision. - Uniform requirements: School uniform required, with details provided by the college. - Transport (train/bus routes): School bus services and regional transport options available to surrounding areas. - Canteen availability: Canteen or food service on site to provide meals and snacks. - Fees (low/medium/high ranges): Fee structure sits in the mid-to-high range for independent schooling; additional costs for uniforms, excursions, and activities apply. --- ## 8. Enrolment & Admissions 11. What is the enrolment process and timeline? - Initial inquiry and information session. - Submission of application form with required documents (birth certificate, school reports, immunisation records). - Possible assessment/interview for students; music or arts auditions may be requested for related programs. - Notification of offer and acceptance steps, including signing enrolment agreement and paying applicable fees. - Orientation and start-date planning aligned with the academic year. 12. Is there a waiting list, and how does it work? - Yes, there is often a waitlist for popular year levels or early-entry year groups. Offers are issued as spaces become available, with priority often given to siblings and returning families where applicable. 13. Are there any entry requirements, tests, or interviews? - Entry often involves an academic or readiness assessment, an interview (sometimes with parents), and, for specific programs, auditions or portfolios (e.g., music, arts, or coding/robotics). 14. Does the school accept mid-year transfers? - Yes, mid-year transfers may be possible if spaces exist and transition processes (transcripts, records, and enrolment requirements) are completed satisfactorily. --- ## 9. Frequently Asked Questions - Why Parents Choose This School? - A values-based, independent Anglican environment that emphasises academics, wellbeing, and a broad co-curricular program within a supportive community. - What type of student thrives at this school? - Motivated, collaborative, values-driven students who enjoy a balanced mix of academics, sport, arts, and leadership opportunities. - What opportunities are available for students to extend their skills (academics, sports, arts)? - Enrichment programs in STEM and English, leadership pathways, advanced coursework, strong sports programs, performing arts, music ensembles, debating, robotics, coding, and more. - How does the school communicate with parents? - Regular updates via newsletters and a parent portal/app, emails, parent-teacher evenings, and targeted communications for major events and reminders. - What is the school’s approach to teaching and learning? - Curriculum aligned with state standards, with inquiry-based learning, differentiation to meet student needs, technology-enabled classrooms, and continuous assessment for growth. - How does the school support students who need extra academic help? - Dedicated learning support, EAL assistance, targeted literacy/numeracy programs, small-group interventions, and one-on-one mentoring where appropriate. - What support is available for academic challenges? - Early identification processes, academic coaching, after-school homework support, and access to specialist staff to address gaps and build skills. - How does the school communicate with parents? - See above: regular updates, portals, and events to keep families informed about progress and opportunities. - What are the class sizes and how much individual attention do students receive? - Class sizes are designed to be manageable, with a focus on providing regular feedback and opportunities for individual guidance within a collaborative learning environment. - What extracurricular and sports opportunities are available? - A wide range of sports, arts, music, and clubs (robotics, coding, chess, debating, service clubs) with pathways to inter-school competitions and events. - What facilities does the school offer (sports, science, arts)? - Modern facilities across sports grounds, libraries, science labs, performing arts spaces, tech/innovation labs, and dedicated canteen and common areas. - What is the school’s approach to technology and digital learning? - Integrated digital learning, coding and STEM opportunities, and responsible technology use within the curriculum and daily learning. - What transport and accessibility options are available? - School bus services and public transport arrangements where available, with accessible facilities and supportive staff. - What are the typical school fees or additional costs? - Tuition and significant additional costs for uniforms, excursions, specialty programs, and activities; details are provided by the college’s enrolment team. --- ## 10. Short Pros & Cons list - Pros - Values-based, supportive community with strong academic and co-curricular balance - Broad range of sports, arts, and clubs with opportunities for leadership - Robuste inclusion and wellbeing supports (EAL/SEN, counselling, transition help) - Modern facilities across science, technology, and performing arts - Accessible transport options and family-friendly communication - Cons - As an independent school, tuition and fees are higher than public options - High demand can lead to waitlists for popular year levels - Busy calendar with many activities may require strong time management from families and students - Travel time for families outside the immediate region can be longer - Some specialty programs require auditions or portfolios and may have additional costs