A “perfect storm” led to nine schools teaching the incorrect subject for a year 12 ancient history exam, an investigation has found.<\/p>\n
Nine Queensland schools continued to teach students about the Roman Emperor Augustus, despite a new topic introduced this year about Roman dictator Julius Caesar.<\/p>\n
The topic had changed in 2025 for the first time since the introduction of the 2019 syllabus.<\/p>\n
An independent review, released on Wednesday and led by Dr Grant Webb, found “multiple systemic and school-based control gaps occurred” at each school, creating a “‘perfect storm’ of risk.”<\/p>\n
Some of these factors identified by the review included staff transitions, unexpected absences and challenging handovers.<\/p>\n
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About 140 students were affected by the error. (ABC News: Casey Briggs)<\/p>\n
The ABC confirmed in October that schools were notified of the external exam topics for ancient history more than two years ago, in August 2023 and again in April 2024.<\/p>\n
The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) sent memos advising principals to ensure teachers knew that external assessment topic notifications were published in the QCAA Portal.<\/p>\n
Principals of the nine schools acknowledged the receipt of these memos and recognised their accountability relating to this error at their school, according to the review.<\/p>\n
The affected schools reported staffing transitions around the time of the memos and when the content was taught.<\/p>\n
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Students were taught about Emperor Augustus instead of Julius Caesar (pictured). (Clara Grosch)<\/p>\n
“That directly contributed to the error by eroding institutional knowledge and creating critical information disparities,” the review found.<\/p>\n
Another factor identified in the mix-up was the QCAA’s communication with schools, which did “not effectively anticipate and mitigate the risk of misalignment between teaching and the external examination topic in all schools”.<\/p>\n
The investigation noted that in another unnamed jurisdiction, secondary schools are required to provide students at the start of each school year with a curriculum overview and an assessment schedule.<\/p>\n
Practices like these could help reduce similar exam blunders in future, the review suggested.<\/p>\n
No students failed<\/p>\n
The error came to light on October 27 when a school identified that the incorrect content had been taught for the exam, which was scheduled to take place in two days.<\/p>\n
QCAA identified another nine schools that had taught the wrong subject, including one of Queensland’s top state high schools, Brisbane State High School.<\/p>\n
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John-Paul Langbroek said the incident was completely unacceptable. (ABC News: Nathan O’Brien)<\/p>\n
Other schools involved in the educational blunder included.<\/p>\n
Flagstone Community College<\/p>\n
Meridan State CollegeRedcliffe SHSYeronga SHSSt Theresa’s Catholic CollegeWest Moreton Anglican CollegeJames Nash SHSKuranda District State College<\/p>\n
The error affected about 140 students across both state and non-state schools.<\/p>\n
But despite the bungle, every student involved achieved a pass (C or above), and more than 40 per cent received an A grade, according to the Crisafulli government.<\/p>\n