A Connected Curriculum: Working across Subject Boundaries in Music and Drama

Abstract

The new Successful Futures curriculum in Wales places a strong emphasis on cross-curricular working, defining six broad ‘Areas of Learning and Experience’ (AoLE), one of which is expressive arts. Initial Teacher Education (ITE) practitioners at Cardiff Metropolitan University are engaged in a project entitled A Connected Curriculum, which aims to explore the challenges and opportunities of working within these AoLEs. This article details the early stages of delivery of collaborative work between music and drama PGCE lecturers and their students, in which the possibilities for deep connections to be made between the subject knowledge and skills of both subjects are explored. This work, while prompted by curriculum developments in Wales, has relevance for teacher educators with an interest in cross-curricular teaching and learning in all countries.