The impact of diversity visits for student teachers in Northern Ireland

This study considers the value of a programme of diversity visits to a number of schools of different management types by a group of Year 1 post‐primary BEd students at a teacher training institution in Belfast, most of whom have themselves been educated in predominantly Protestant or Catholic schools. Student responses show considerable learning gains in terms of increased understanding of diversity issues and the alleviation of misconceptions regarding schools of different management types. Some non‐diversity‐related professional development learning gains were also achieved as a result of the programme.