The Sydney Morning Herald
· collected 2026-09-11 · by Catherine Strohfeldt
An independent review has found that Queensland's senior schooling system, introduced in 2020, is complex for students and parents to understand. The University of Melbourne analysis found some areas where improvement is needed, including making public information clearer and strengthening monitoring and review processes. However, the review also indicated that the system itself "has sound foundations" and results are reliable with little evidence of bias against certain groups of students. The QCAA has been commissioned the study over two years ago, but only recently released its findings after a separate state review into the authority's miscommunication led to 134 year 12 students being taught wrong material for an exam.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In Queensland, an independent review of the senior schooling system has found that while it has sound foundations, it is difficult for students and parents to understand. The University of Melbourne conducted the analysis, which focused on the QCE (Queensland Certificate of Education) system introduced in 2020. Although the system is largely working as intended, the review criticized the explanations of the curriculum and assessments, stating that they are primarily written for teachers and education professionals, thereby excluding students and parents from conversations about senior schooling. This issue was highlighted by a recent incident where nine schools taught the wrong final unit in ancient history, resulting in 134 year 12 students having to prepare for an exam on the correct topic, Julius Caesar, just 24 hours before it took place. The review's findings come after a state report blamed a "perfect storm" of errors for the miscommunication that led to this incident.
Written for “Senior High School System” on 2026-09-12,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 8054 · logged 2026-09-11
The Queensland year 11 and 12 schooling system has “sound foundations” but is difficult for students and school communities to understand, an independent review has found.
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review → have → foundations
The University of Melbourne analysed the senior schooling system introduced in 2020 – called the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) system – finding it was largely working as intended.
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it → analyse → Education
However, the review said explanations of the curriculum and assessments threatened to exclude students and parents from conversations about senior schooling.
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explanations → say → schooling
“The handbook is written primarily for teachers and education professionals,” the review said.
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review → write → teachers
Although the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) commissioned the study more than two years ago, the findings follow a state review into the authority after a miscommunication led to nine schools teaching the wrong final unit.
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schools → commission → unit
Schools discovered as little as 24 hours before the 2025 external ancient history exam to prepare 134 year 12 students on the correct topic, Julius Caesar, rather than the unit they had studied on his grandnephew emperor Augustus.
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they → discover → grandnephew
The state report, released in November last year, blamed a “perfect storm” of errors from both the assessment authority and schools.
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report → release → authority
A committee hearing held in March proposed parents and students could keep track of the curriculum units being taught at schools by reading it through the QCAA’s online portal.
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parents → hold → portal
While the review flagged five additional areas for improvement, QCAA chief executive Claude Jones said the findings were “strong evidence that the QCE system [was] working well”.
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system → flag → improvement
Lead researcher professor Therese Hopfenbeck said the review indicated the QCE system was one with “sound foundations”.
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system → say → foundations
Areas for improvement in the the QCE system identified in the external review:
- Make public information clearer.
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information → identify → review
Improve information about the QCE system so it is easier for parents, students and the community to understand.
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parents → improve → system
“Results are highly reliable and we found little evidence of bias against particular groups of students,” she said.
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she → find → students
Hopfenbeck said the review drew on stakeholder surveys and consultations, school case studies, observations of assessment processes, analysis of student results, and comparisons with international research and benchmarks.
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review → say → research
Through surveys of stakeholders, the review found there were “mixed levels” of public confidence in the new system, with school leaders and assessment authority staff being the groups who felt most positively about it.
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who → find → it
Three in four school leaders the review team surveyed across 344 schools agreed the QCE system was better than the previous OP system.
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system → survey → system
While less than 2.5 per cent of respondents favoured the old system, about 21 per cent said comparing the two systems was not a straightforward yes or no question.
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comparing → favour → systems
Surveys of nearly 900 teachers indicated although agreed the new system was fair to students and fully addressed community needs, fewer than half strongly endorsed it – even outright agreed with the given statements.
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half → indicate → statements
Among parents, the review found parents associations believed the new senior schooling system was fair and external exams in particular helped boost public confidence.
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exams → find → confidence
Parents believed external exams provided a benchmark between schools, aligned with state assessment policies, and were robustly supervised.
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exams → believe → policies
