Abstract

This study seeks to discover the attitudes to inclusion of those about to embark on initial teachereducation in Northern Ireland and the extent to which an extended teaching practice in a nonselectiveplacement school can influence attitude change. A cohort of 125 student teachersresponded to a survey that explored their attitudes towards a range of issues relating to inclusiveeducation in the context of Northern Ireland. The findings indicate that student teachers inNorthern Ireland show positive attitudes towards the principles of inclusion, with teaching practiceexperience in a non-selective school appearing to confirm and increase these positive attitudes.However, despite displaying increasingly positive attitudes towards inclusion post-teachingpractice, there are indications that student teachers continue to show strong attachment tocurrent organisational practices strongly related to academic selection.