their attainment of formal qualifications in the subject outside of normal schooling and their involvement in public performances via membership of a band or choir. Conversely, only one teacher identified himself as having a strong background in mathematics and this was characterised by the level of mathematics studied in formal schooling and his self-reported level of confidence in the subject rather then extra qualifications gained in the area. However, what seemed more important as a predictor of their decision to adopt an integrated approach to instruction, was the shared belief in the importance of educating the “whole” child and preparing them for life in an “integrated world”. In addition, each teacher expressed the significance of “hands-on” learning that was relevant, significant and engaging for the children as well as encouraging the development of creativity. While only involving a small number of teachers, the interviews provided a tentative starting point for our exploration of why some teachers utilise integration as an instructional strategy.