Early History 1930 - 1940
Royal Far West School was formally opened as a Hospital School on 3 August 1938. Prior to that date, students had been taught in a room in the Royal Far West Children's Health Scheme by a teacher from the Manly Infants' School under the supervision of the Manly Infants' Mistress, as far back as 1930. The first teacher in charge was Miss C. Phipps. An assistant teacher was appointed in October 1938. As the school expanded, facilities grew to include portable classrooms as well as the classroom in what is now called Drummond House. An additional teacher was appointed in 1941. By 1941 there were 178 students enrolled at the school. Most suffered from severe eye problems, osteomyelitis, ear, nose and throat problems, and paralysis.
The school was relocated to Springwood during 1942 and 1943 because of possible war dangers and Drummond House was occupied by the Australian Women's Army.
In February 1944 the school reopened at Manly. There were still only two small portable classrooms with no heating or electricity. There was an effective enrolment of 53, with 101 children attending the school at various times.
1950 - 1960
In 1950 over 150 students had attended the school, staying for periods between a week and two years. As the school increased in size, plans were made for a permanent school building to be built on the site of Manly Luna Park on the corner of Wentworth Street and South Steyne. By 1953 there was a daily average attendance of 110 students. This year also saw the formation of the school P&C, fondly known as "The Friends". They are still dedicated and passionate supporters of the school today.
By the time building of the permanent building started in 1957, the school was "bursting at the seams". Very excited staff and students moved into the new building in September 1958 with the official opening in 1959. By 1960 further expansion of the health scheme meant plans to extend the school were approved.
1960 - 1980
1966 saw the first television set in the school. The school continued to grow during the 1960s, with a total enrolment in 1970 of 1,000 and a weekly average enrolment of 205. Space continued to be at a premium.
1970s and 1980s
Reading and Maths Centres were established and extensions to the building were completed. There was a decrease in students number mirroring a lower number of clients to the health service.
1990s
Aboriginal murals were painted by artists from the Eora Centre. Computers arrived in 1991.
Intensive Reading Programs were run in collaboration with Royal Far West. The average length of stay down to one week following a change to parent-accompanied visits to RFW.
2000 and beyond
There has been an increasing use of technology:
- interactive whiteboards in every classroom
- 2 full video conference rooms plus 1 mobile video conference set up
- Adobe Connect used to provide individual tuition to students in rural NSW
- a computer for every child in each classroom
There is a close collaboration with Royal Far West clinical services, with a focus on developmental, learning and behaviour difficulties. Also, an increasing emphasis on providing ongoing support to students, families and schools remotely. RFWS expanded to include the NSW Centre for Effective Reading Manly.
