Schooling in a Multiracial Society: contrasting perspectives of primary and secondary teachers in training

Following an analysis of current responses to the ideologies of multicultural and anti‐racist education, the findings of a survey of student teachers' perceptions of the role of the school in a multiracial society are presented. The survey suggests that prospective primary teachers may be more amenable towards contemporary policy initiatives in this sphere than their secondary colleagues. To account for this finding, reference is made to differences between the two groups in terms of occupational socialisation, identity and role. The implications of the study for initial teacher training institutions are discussed in the context of recommendations made in the Swann Report (1985).