What is the Role of the Arts in a Primary School?: An Investigation of Perceptions of Pre-Service Teachers in Australia

The arts are an important compulsory subject area in Australian schooling. In 2014, the Australian National Curriculum for the arts is scheduled for implementation. While the arts may be a compulsory subject area and expected to be taught in classrooms by primary school teachers, current perceptions held by teachers may be different to the view held in the Australian National Curriculum. This paper explores the views of pre-service teachers, who will be future primary school teachers. Through the use of a survey, data was collected from two Australian universities to develop an understanding of what pre-service teachers think about the role of the arts in a primary school. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings provide perceptions about the role of artists in schools, visiting arts galleries, current arts engagement in their own lives and confidence levels to teach the arts. Suggestions are provided for teacher education providers, curriculum developers and policy advisors about ways to support and enhance positive perceptions of arts in primary schools throughout Australia.