Exam mix-up: Qld schools told in 2023 about curriculum change from Caesar to Augustus, memo shows
High schools were told two years ago about the curriculum change at the centre of a year 12 exam debacle, while a parent at another school tried to raise the alarm in August.
High schools were told in two separate emails as far back as two years ago about a change in the ancient history curriculum from Augustus to Julius Caesar – but nine schools managed to miss the memo.
One high school even raised the alarm about the curriculum mix-up just two months ago, but while their error was fixed, it never made it any further up the Department of Education chain.
The bungle meant 140 Year 12 students were given just one day to cram for an exam for which they had spent 12 months studying the wrong topic, with all given the option to sit it out without detriment.
A total of 122 students across the nine schools still opted to sit the exam.
It has been confirmed the Queensland Curriculum Assessment Authority told schools via email on August 30, 2023 to teach Year 12 students about Julius Caesar and not his successor, Roman emperor Augustus.
They then sent another notification on April 17, 2024. The 2024 memo also included notice students had the choice of Julius Caesar or Cleopatra in 2026. Both memos were obtained by this masthead.
Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek, who has ordered a full investigation into how the bungle occurred, said he wanted the investigation to be completed “as soon as it can”.
“It will include reviewing communications, procedures and verification processes to ensure that schools are confirming awareness of topic changes for any curriculum,” he said.
“I’ve directed my Director-General to undertake a full investigation with the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority.”
It can also be revealed a parent from Rochedale State High School raised the alarm in August that the school was teaching Augustus.
The issue was escalated to the regional heads of the Department of Education, then rectified. But it didn’t go any further, so there was no wider check on whether more schools had made the error.
When asked if it looked into whether other schools were told once the alarm was flagged, a department spokeswoman said: “External exam processes at all schools will be included in the examination of the ancient history incident.”
Mr Langbroek previously stated that communications had “obviously not been carried out appropriately” before labelling the major bungle as “extremely traumatic”.
The QCAA declined to comment on the memos.
It is understood topic changes rarely occur.
QCAA chief executive Claude Jones had previously said the organisation “regrets” the impact this situation has had on students.
“We are committed to ensuring every student receives fair and accurate results,” Mr Jones said.
“Our assessment experts will apply additional quality assurance checks to support this process.”
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