Rudd and Gillard not in the same class

It was a case of two different schools in two different cities for Prime Minister Julia Gillard and leadership aspirant Kevin Rudd.

Ms Gillard was warmly greeted by students at St Mary MacKillop College in Canberra on Friday as she talked about her own school days and the merits of a good education.

She received a bunch of red roses draped in the colours of the Western Bulldogs and a picture of Australia's first saint, before posing for photographs with grinning students and speaking to reporters.

After questions about airline job losses and the economy, she was quizzed on whether she felt it necessary to call a leadership spill to clear the air.

"I'm here as prime minister today doing what I always intended to do ... which was spend some time at this remarkable school," she said.

"So nothing is more important to me than just getting on with the job we need to do ... to give our nation the strongest possible economy for the future."

Mr Rudd was also well received as he spoke to students and teachers at his alma mater Marist College in Ashgrove, Brisbane, where he boarded in the late 1960s.

Ashgrove is at the heart of the Queensland state election campaign, which kicks off in earnest next week ahead of the March 24 poll.

Liberal National Party leader Campbell Newman will need to defeat former Labor minister Kate Jones in the seat if the party is to have any chance of toppling Premier Anna Bligh.

Later in Brisbane's Queen Street Mall, Mr Rudd was greeted with, "You should be prime minister" by well-wishers after dancing and singing with children at a charity event.

Asked about the cheers, he told reporters, "The local folk are always very kind to me.

"School kids are always nice, they are well mannered and they are friendly.

"This is my home town, it's where I am. I am here supporting local members."

Pushed on his leadership ambitions, Mr Rudd said, "As I have said a thousand times, I am very happy being foreign minister of Australia."

"It is a position that keeps me well and truly occupied."

Mr Rudd will attend a fundraiser in Brisbane on Friday night for the ALP's election campaign, featuring another former prime minister, Paul Keating.