ROBOTICS isn't the first thing associated with high schoolers, but for the Surat State School Robotics Team it's an area that's natural to them.

The team of seven recently returned from the Queensland University of Technology campus at Caboolture, having finished first overall in the Lego league robotics competition against competitors from all over the state.

The team was assessed on several judging requirements, including core values such as teamwork and the link their robot had to the required theme of recycling and waste management.

Robotics coordinator and teacher at Surat State School Peter Macbeth said the team used an innovative method of recycling to respond to the challenge.

"They went around Surat and interviewed people on the kinds of waste produced by residents, and eventually found that cans were one of the main types," he said.

"They ended up using that as the theme for recycling in Surat."

Despite their victory, Mr Macbeth said the team had a shaky start, performing very poorly in the first round.

"They were very frustrated and nervous at first, but turned it around by working together and regaining all the ground lost," he said. "The whole school community is backing them on this one."

With the finals just around the corner in Sydney, Mr Macbeth said the team would do a lot better than last time.

"They're stoked to go along; if they do as well as they did in the other competition, they might be able to win," he said. "The teachers are very proud of their achievements."